Electric Car Charging Pilot Gets Approval On UWS

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Upper West Side community board approved a Department of Transportation and Con Edison pilot program to bring electric vehicle charging stations to the neighborhood's public streets.

Con Ed will install three charging stations in the neighborhood, with each station taking up two street parking spots. Two cars will be able to use the stations at a time and will pay a meter rate consistent with the cost of filling up a gas tank, according to a DOT presentation given in September.

A resolution supporting the pilot program was passed despite some opposition among members of Community Board 7, including the chair of the transportation committee which authored the resolution. Committee chair Howard Yaruss voiced his opinion that public space shouldn't be re-purposed to benefit electric car owners, who can currently find charging stations in neighborhood garages.

Board members who spoke in support of the program during the board's Wednesday night meeting cited that building these stations on the street may incentivize neighborhood drivers to chose electric vehicles over gas-powered vehicles.

"Anybody who parks their car on the street is unable to charge their vehicle in our neighborhood, which means that people can't have electric vehicles," transportation committee member Richard Robbins said.

Two Upper West Side residents spoke out against the plan during the Wednesday meeting, claiming that the stations are the latest attempt to take parking away from drivers in the neighborhood. The city Department of Transportation recently installed a protected bike lane on Central Park West that eliminated 400 parking spots on the avenue. Board members in favor of the project countered that the charging stations still count as car parking, but are simply reserved for one type of vehicle.

Con Ed did not provide the board with the exact planned location of the charging stations, but did offer an outline. Stations will be located along West 93rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, West End Avenue between West 66th and 70th streets and West 86th Street between West End Avenue and Riverside Drive. The charging stations are expected to be installed during the spring.