WPNCR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2004, Updated 4:45 P.M. E.D.T.: The days of 50 cents an hour parking ended midnight, today, when the White Plains DOP (Department of Parking) was born, and the White Plains Parking Authority ceased to exist after 57 years. The DOP has advised the White Plains CitizeNetReporter that all streets in the city with parking meters will be converted to the new rate structure by the first of September, not two weeks as previously reported by the DOP.

The first three blocks of the downtown on-street meters and garages will be converted by Tuesday of next week, according to Al Moroni, Director of Parking, at which time the new rates will be enforced. Moroni noted that downtown on-street meters currently do charge 75 cents an hour but only until 6 P.M.. He said that by Tuesday these will be converted to accept 6 hours worth of quarters after 6 P.M, complete with "new signage," at which time these meters will be enforced 6 to midnight.  The sequence in which the rest of the city's streets ( where 25 cent an hour meters will be converted to 75 cents an hour meters)  will be converted appears at the end of this report. "You have to get a Cash Key," Moroni said, "Because that is a lot of quarters."

GOT CHANGE? The White Plains Department of Parking on-street meters will demand 3 quarters to park an hour instead of the usual two beginning today. Garage and Lot meters will be raised to 50 Cents an Hour. The rates and hours will be in effect 7 days a week, as well as the time you can spend at one meter, according to the DOP today. "We've already received calls about the time limitations on Sundays," a DOP spokesperson said. Photo by WPCNR News.

Today,  the City of White Plains on-street parking meter rates go to 75 cents an hour throughout the city, and lots and off-street meter rates go up to 50 cents an hour.

18 Quarters Required to Park six hours After 6 P.M.

Parkers throughout the city should note meters will be enforced from 9 A.M.  until 12:00 midnight, whereas previously in White Plains, meters were only enforced from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. Three new Public Safety Aids are being hired to enforce the new hours. The DOP also informs WPCNR that after 6 P.M. citizens will be able to buy 6 hours of parking at a time in the new meters to avoid having to "feed the meter." However, to park for six hours will require 18 quarters.

Citizens in the downtown at restaurants, bistros, stores in the evenings will have to feed the meters and keep leaving their dinners to do so to an enjoy an evening out or face a $15 dollar summons when their meter runs out.

Parking Finance Planning Urged.

Shoppers and diners between 9 A.M. and 6 are urged by WPCNR  to calculate walking time and have quarters, dimes, nickels or Cash Key  with them to feed in the extra quarters and consider carefully how long it will take to walk to their retail destination pick up their item and return. Cash keys may be purchased for any amount at White Plains Department of Parking offices (located at 7-11 South Broadway and at WPDOT garages (The Galleria, City Hall).

The city will be phasing in the meters gradually street-by-street. Today July 1, the meters on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Broadway and EJ Conroy Drive to South Broadway will have the new rates (75 cents an hour) in effect. Meters within city lots and garages move to 50 cents an hour (the present rate at the City Center Garage). 

A few days of warnings...and then the $15 summons.

The city will issue  "OOPS" warnings after 6 P.M. in the first few days of the new rates and will switch to real summonses (costing you $15, up from $10) at an undisclosed date in the very near future.

Overtime notices in city garages like The Galleria and the City Hall Garage,  go up to $2 for the first overtime hour (or part) (up from $1).

The city will be phasing-in the new rate increase and extended hours electronically on the city's on-street meters in the following order:  Main Street West to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East to Broadway, and EJ. Conroy Drive to South Broadway has been completed. Meters will then be converted to the 75 cent rate in the following order:

1. Mamaroneck Avenue North and South to Maple Avenue both sides.

2. Martine Avenue

3. Mitchell Place.

4. Quarropas.

5. Court Street.

6. Grand Street

7. Post Road (South Broadway to MLK)

8. Church Street.

9. Barker Avenue.

10.Cottage Place

11. Water Street

12. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Main to Water Street)

13. Hamilton Avenue

14. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Martine to Post) Fischer Court

15. Longview

16. S. Lexington Avenue

17. Cromwell

18 Chester Place

22. Waller Avenue (Post to Carhart).

The Outer Town Street meters and lots will be converted next in this order:

1. Mamaroneck Avenue (Maple to Bryant)

2. Carhart

3. Rutherford

4. Greenridge

5. Livingston

6. Edgewood

7.Bloomingdale

8. Doyer

9. Shapham Place

10. Hall Avenue

11. Bond Avenue