For years downtown State College has been cluttered with the cars of commuters. Now finally a proposal has been brought to the State College Borough Council that could help alleviate the quagmire of vehicles.

While commuters grumble about a proposal that would require permits to park in residential areas, the council should approve the plan, which may encourage downtown employees and students to use the park and ride program.

The plan would require commuters to pay $30 a month or $360 a year to park on borough residential streets between Hamilton and Foster avenues and University Drive and Atherton Street. According to the planning commission's plan, the commuter permit is valid between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

While this plan does not ensure that there will be fewer automobiles in residential neighborhoods, it should encourage use of alternative forms of transportation like the park and ride program, the Centre Area Transportation Authority's bus service or car pooling.

The park and ride program, which costs $20 a month or $240 a year, would be $120 cheaper than buying a residential permit.

What makes this plan unique is that it is directed at the cause of the daytime parking problem. People who live out of town and work at borough businesses or the University often avoid high parking fees by leaving their automobiles in residential neighborhoods.

The proposal would also give residents more opportunities to park in front of their homes because they would be able to purchase a permit for $7 a year allowing them to park on the streets 24 hours a day -- something they can't do now in most areas. Students living in the plan's areas may actually have more convenient parking than they do now.

State College cannot provide unlimited parking for free. The new proposal may help people realize that.