City officials confirmed Thursday that they plan to implement a pilot program this fall that would double parking meter rates during peak hours.
The goal is to increase turnover in parking spots, so drivers will spend less time looking for parking, which, in turn, could cut down congestion, pollution, and the number of people who double-park or park in bus lanes.
For now, the new rates are only scheduled to apply to meters in two test zones: one along a yet-to-be-determined stretch of Kings Highway and on adjacent streets in Midwood, Brooklyn and the other in parts of Greenwich Village in Manhattan.
In Greenwich Village, parking meters currently charge 25 cents for 15 minutes. In the fall, a quarter will only buy six or seven minutes of parking time
.