Money from boosting rates, hours of metered parking in Lawrenceville to support mobility projects

Pittsburgh officials are planning to increase rates and hours of metered parking in the city’s Lawrenceville neighborhood and use the extra cash for transportation-related projects in the community.

City Council on Tuesday approved legislation that creates a new mobility enhancement district in the neighborhood. It allows the city to charge more for parking spots during peak hours and extend metered parking into nighttime hours.

The extra money collected will be reinvested into the neighborhood, with a special emphasis on mobility projects such as traffic calming, bus shelters, bike infrastructure and sidewalk repairs.

Councilwoman Deb Gross, D-Highland Park, who sponsored the legislation, said creating the district also will encourage parking turnover so people can more easily find spots in the bustling neighborhood.

Community members have voiced support for the initiative, saying they believe it will alleviate parking problems and provide money for much-needed mobility projects that will make Lawrenceville more accessible and pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

The measure is set to go into effect in six months, giving city officials enough time to set up a trust fund for the money collected through the additional parking enforcement and allowing for new meters to be installed.

The city’s first mobility enhancement district was created in 2016 on East Carson Street in the city’s South Side neighborhood. The program there has collected about $1.4 million, which has funded efforts to improve cleanliness and safety in the entertainment district.