by KYW’s Mike Dunn

The Parking Authority is promising smoother rush hours in Center City, if it gets final City Council approval to expand its towing operation.

The Authority currently can tow and impound a car only in an area that is bounded by Vine Street on the north and Spruce Street on the south. A council committee has now given a preliminary okay to expanding that border north to Spring Garden, south to Bainbridge, and also on Broad Street itself all the way up to Hunting Park Avenue.
 
Parking Authority Executive Director Vince Fennerty says to goal is to get illegally parked cars out of the way in rush hour:
"By adding these tow away zones, it will allow the Authority to remove the car, impound it, and free up the flow of traffic in the main arteries."

Fennerty says this will particularly help around the I-95 Vine Street ramps.

He insists this plan is not meant to generate new revenues for the Authority.

The measure now goes to the full Council for approval.