After the conclusion of a first-of-its-kind Alternate Side Parking (ASP) pilot program in partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in parts of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights, the results were not what many had hoped.
Council Member Crystal Hudson’s office launched the pilot to assess whether less frequent enforcement could achieve comparable results while reducing the burden on Brooklyn residents.
Hudson said that the pilot test whether residents could be trusted to comply with alternative side parking one day a week, as reported by the Gothamist.
Based on its monitoring and enforcement data, DSNY concluded that vehicle compliance and street cleanliness actually declined during the pilot and has decided not to extend the program.
From July 1-31, before the pilot, vehicle compliance averaged 73 percent, and 455 ASP summonses were issued while enforcement took place four days a week. During the pilot, compliance fell to 62 percent.
The pilot ran from Monday, Aug. 3, through Friday, Sept. 25. Regular enforcement of all posted ASP days resumed Monday, Sept. 28.
DSNY monitored the program through photographs, on-site observations and data on vehicle compliance and summonses.
DSNY also issued 913 ASP summonses during the pilot, averaging approximately 457 per month, despite enforcement taking place only two days a week.
Although the pilot will not lead to a permanent reduction in ASP enforcement, it provided an opportunity to test a new approach to neighborhood street cleaning. Council Member Hudson’s office thanked DSNY for its partnership and willingness to evaluate the proposal, as well as the community partners who helped residents understand the temporary changes.
Council Member Hudson’s office remains hopeful that the findings will inform future discussions about ASP regulations across City Council District 35 and that opportunities to revisit the policy may arise.
