The New York City Department of Sanitation and City Council Member Crystal Hudson’s office launched a pilot program in Prospect Heights on August 3 that reduces alternate-side parking requirements from twice a week to once a week across 12 neighborhood streets. Running through September 25, the nearly two-month test examines whether city streets can remain clean while sparing drivers the frequent ritual of moving their vehicles.
Prospect Heights Pilot Details and Schedule
During the pilot, alternate-side parking enforcement is limited to Thursdays and Fridays, depending on which side of the street a vehicle is parked. The Department of Sanitation monitors street cleanliness throughout the duration of the test to determine if once-a-week sweeping maintains sanitation standards just as effectively as the traditional schedule.
The pilot program encompasses portions of Pacific, Dean, Bergen and St. Marks Avenue, alongside Prospect Place, Park Place, Sterling Place, St. John’s Place, Lincoln Place, and Butler Place. Designated sections of Underhill and Washington Avenues are included in the test area as well.
Did You Know? Existing metal parking signs across the 12 participating Prospect Heights streets will continue to display the usual twice-weekly street-cleaning schedule despite the reduced enforcement.
Handling Parking Rules and Confusion
Drivers on participating blocks will not receive alternate-side tickets outside of their designated Thursday or Friday cleaning day, despite the existing metal signs displaying the regular twice-weekly schedule. Crystal Hudson’s office advises that anyone who mistakenly receives a ticket on a non-enforcement day during the pilot should contact the office directly with their name, plate number, and ticket number.
Officials selected Prospect Heights for the test based on Department of Sanitation street-cleanliness data and operational considerations, according to Hudson’s office. City representatives emphasize that driver cooperation on designated cleaning days remains vital because parked cars blocking sanitation crews from reaching the curb would make it difficult to evaluate whether the reduced schedule functions properly.
Potential Expansion and Future Outlook
Strong community participation during the test could help make the case for expanding similar alternate-side parking reductions to other areas within the district, according to Crystal Hudson’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Prospect Heights alternate-side parking pilot run?
The test began on August 3 and runs through September 25.
Which days is alternate-side parking enforced during the pilot?
Enforcement is limited to Thursdays and Fridays, depending on the side of the street, instead of the usual twice-weekly schedule.
What should drivers do if they receive a ticket on a non-enforcement day?
Crystal Hudson’s office states that anyone who mistakenly receives a ticket on a non-enforcement day should contact the office with their name, plate number, and ticket number.
How will the city determine if the reduced parking schedule is a success?