Parking in Hoboken isn’t easy, and it will now be more expensive. The city will begin charging late-night weekend visitors, while also raising resident parking permits.
From 9 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, the city will now charge the same rate it does during daytime hours. In the business district, that's 75 cents per 15 minutes. Paid parking had previously ended at 9 p.m.
The city is facing a $13 million budget gap, and is projecting a 19% municipal tax increase. Officials are looking at other ways to raise revenue.
“It is best practice to have the meters turned on while you still have a lot of businesses that are operating," said parking director Ryan Sharp. "You will still generate turnover.”
“It may not work out!" said Stephanie, a Jersey City resident who works in Hoboken. "I think we're going to get a lot less foot traffic.”
Sharp says 80% of the drivers who park during those times are visitors. Residents will not pay the late-night charges, but a yearly permit has increased from $61 to $95.
“Hoboken has the second-highest vehicle density in the entire state of New Jersey," Sharp said. "Resident parking permits are oversold by a three-to-one ratio on many blocks in Hoboken.”
The city projects $300,000 from the change this year.