Parking Meter Rate Hikes Come To UWS: Here's By How Much

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - Parking your car in the Upper West Side? Be prepared to cough up a little extra.

New parking meter rate increases courtesy of the New York City Department of Transportation went into effect Monday, with new prices varying by zone.

The Upper West Side saw roughly a 25 percent increase in parking meter rates, which will set motorists back $5 for the first hour and $8.25 for the second hour. That’s up from $4 and $6.75, respectively.

The priciest rate increases came to Midtown and Lower Manhattan, with first hour rates in parts of the area now at $5.50, up from $4.50. The second hour will cost motorists $9.

You can view a map of fare hikes by zone here.

Meter rate hikes are up just in Manhattan for now, but are slated to expand to Queens on Oct. 27 and the other boroughs by November.

The DOT says parking meters encourage parking accessibility, foster turnover in high-trafficked areas and make streets less congested, according to its website.

The rate hike comes just barely a month after the MTA increased subway and bus fares from $2.75 to $2.90 per ride in August. It was the first hike rate approved by the MTA in seven years. Read more: Subway Fare Hike OK'd By MTA, Takes Effect In August

Travel-related costs may not be slowing down anytime soon in the Big Apple, either. Last year, a study released by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli found that a $3.52 fare could be the new swipe fee for straphangers if the MTA can't cover revenue losses from the Covid pandemic.