Every weekday, thousands of cars flood the streets of Downtown Brooklyn, western Queens and Upper Manhattan, in search of free parking for the workday. The congestion often inundates otherwise quiet, residential streets and outlying commercial districts, disrupting parking patterns all day long. T.A. research has shown that nearly one in five car commuters into Manhattan park for free on the street.

A Residential Parking Permit (RPP) program would discourage all day parking by commuters who use neighborhoods as parking lots. By requiring an RPP for a window of time each morning or afternoon, long-term parkers are encouraged to make use of a parking garage, park in less-congested areas of the city, or convert their trip to public transportation instead. Many cities and counties in New York operate successful RPP programs, as do major cities like Boston, Chicago and Washington D.C. State legislation is required to enable an RPP program in New York City.