Outer Boroughs Immune From Meter Rate Increase

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – While many drivers faced a new increased parking meter rate this week, many areas of the outer boroughs won't have to deal with the skyrocketing transportation costs.

Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx and northern parts of Manhattan will be immune to the new increase, which brought many hourly rates up from .75 to $1.

Councilman James Vacca said it's good news for everyone.

"Keeping meter rates low will encourage people to shop in their communities and keeping rates low will help those small businesses that are struggling very significantly because of the economy," Vacca said.

In the city, those who drive south of 86th Street will face the scheduled 20 percent increase. Drivers there will now pay $3 an hour.

It's a relief for now, Vacca said, and people certainly have a lot to be happy about.

"They wanted to raise from .75 an hour to $1 an hour," Vacca said. "They were going to nickel and quarter people who shop in mom and pop commercial strips and we said no and we won."