Drivers will soon get three extra hours of parking per day along Atlantic Avenue.

In July, the Transportation Department (DOT) will lift the current 4 to 7 p.m. No Standing restrictions along eastbound Atlantic Avenue between Smith Street and Third Avenue.

An extra three hours of metered parking in about 100 parking spaces will be provided, which officials say will help local businesses.

According to Councilman Stephen Levin, although the No Standing restriction was implemented to help traffic flow, residents complain that the corridor is usually lined with ticketed parked cars, making the ban pointless.

“The restriction was in place to increase vehicular traffic flow during rush hour, but the real effect was to decrease customer traffic flow for the many businesses along Atlantic Avenue,” Levin said.

Additional changes DOT is making to the area will include a new No Left Turn restriction on the eastbound Atlantic Avenue lane at Smith Street from 4 to 7 p.m.

Eastbound Atlantic Avenue and Bond Street, along with the westbound and Hoyt Street, will have No Left Turn restrictions at all times. According to DOT, the changes, to be implemented in early July, will eliminate congestion caused by turning vehicles and provide two through-travel lanes in each direction.

(Heather Senison)