| Author |
Message |
    
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 829
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 10:18 am: | 
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Got a letter from the SP Parking authority, including an application with the new rates.
/p |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 830
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
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that's letter from the "SO Parking Authority" /p |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1588
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 3:10 pm: |
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The letter is from the S. Orange Parking Authority. NJ Transit dictates the rates in that lot.
The cost of the property acquisition and construction of the parking lot was about $3,000,000. I was not on the BOT at the time the decision was made. I think in retrospect we should have bought the property or at least a large portion of it and let NJ Transit have one small area. Tough decision because of the money.
Originally the large majority of permits in the NJ Transit lot went to S. Orange residents. Each year the percentage shrinks as people give up those when there name comes up on the village owned lots. This price increase will probably accelerate that trend.
We have invited NJ Transit to come to a BOT meeting again. There are several issues for commuters that I asked them to discuss, and this will be added to the list. |
Mergele
Citizen
Username: Mergele
Post Number: 187
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 6:55 pm: |
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Mr. Rosner,
I would most happily give up my NJT lot space in favor of a resident permit. I have, however been on the resident list for over three years, and last time I checked, had another 3-5 years to wait according to the powers that be at the Parking Authority.
Walking/biking to the train is not an option for me for a number of reasons and there is no jitney service in my part of town. I was fortunate to clear the NJT list in less than a year - right before the wait times got really crazy according to anecdotal evidence.
As NJT is dictating this obscene increase, I understand our only recourse is to take the matter up with them. But I do think the village needs to find some solution to the availability of commuter parking in order to maintain the appeal of South Orange as a location of choice for folks looking at real estate in this part of the state.
At some point, the combination of ever-increasing horrific property taxes, fee increases like this one, and lack of local services creates a great big downward spiral in the cost-benefit equation. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 57
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 2:29 pm: |
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NJ Transit is a disgrace. They should at least have provided an explanation as to the increase. Have other NJ Transit Lots also increased their rates or is it just SO? |
Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 50
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 2:36 pm: |
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Look, I think the parking authority does a fantastic job. Neva has been amazingly responsive any time I have ever had a question/issue
However, I do think the letter could have been better worded with the name/phone number of the contact at NJ Transit. I'm sure they got tons of angry phone calls from people in the lot and why should they have? It is cowardly (but entirely expected) on the part of NJ Transit as to hide behing the parking authority. |
SOLIFER
Citizen
Username: Solifer
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, November 29, 2004 - 9:04 pm: |
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is NJ Transit owns the lot Why did I see SO DPW plowing it last year and the year b4. Come to think about Dpw does alot of shoveling on sloan st and I have seen them shovel the sidewalk over the bridge at MOUNTAIN station. IF NJtransit owns these properties why are our taxes paying to maintain them |
D. Richards
Citizen
Username: Baddriving11
Post Number: 127
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 10:17 am: |
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The Transit lot at the main train station is not under transit control it is maintained and enforced by the Village.
As for the sidewalks..maybe because they are sidewalks adjacent to the road...not sure on that one...maybe as a courtesy to residents for access to the train station?????
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Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 53
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 11:15 am: |
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Random question, but how many spots are there in the lot (daily/non-daily)? |
Paddy
Citizen
Username: Paddy
Post Number: 183
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 12:21 pm: |
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Would have been nice if the PA would have sent us some prior notice so we could effectively complain about this to NJT--I heard about a hike a couple of months ago so I won't believe that this was the first the PA heard about it. Now it's probably too late. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 58
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - 9:15 am: |
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Here is the response from NJ Transit. It sounds like SO Parking Authority had some imput in raising the fees:
"Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT via the Internet.
Please know that the current parking fees at South Orange have been in effect since 2000. An increase is necessary at this time for the South Orange Parking Authority to cover the rising management and operation costs, while maintaining the high level of service they have provided to customers.
Your understanding and patronage are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Fred Bauer
NJ TRANSIT Customer Service"
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susan1014
Citizen
Username: Susan1014
Post Number: 242
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - 9:23 am: |
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Maybe NJT has to pay the town for lot maintenance?? |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 59
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - 12:24 pm: |
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I just wanted to know who decides on the increase. It appears that NJ Transit was saying SO Parking Authority needed the increase. However, earlier responses on this topic indicate that it was NJ Transit. I think we deserve an answer. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1592
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 1, 2004 - 2:34 pm: |
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NJ Transit sets the rates. If you want more information I suggest you call the S. Orange Parking Authority. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 60
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 2, 2004 - 8:45 am: |
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Mrosner:
Thank you for your response but it does not answer the quote from NJ Transit:
Thank you for contacting NJ TRANSIT via the Internet.
Please know that the current parking fees at South Orange have been in effect since 2000. An increase is necessary at this time for the South Orange Parking Authority to cover the rising management and operation costs, while maintaining the high level of service they have provided to customers.
Your understanding and patronage are appreciated.
Sincerely,
Fred Bauer
NJ TRANSIT Customer Service"
NJ Transit may set the rates but they indicate that rising operating and management costs by SO Parking Authority caused the increase. Is this accurate or an excuse by NJ Transit to increase the rates? |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1595
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, December 2, 2004 - 9:27 am: |
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They figure they can raise the rates due to the demand for parking and no other reason. They can put any spin on it that they want, but if there was no waiting list, the rates would have remained the same. |
Jeff DuBowy
Citizen
Username: Jeffd
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 5, 2004 - 9:47 am: |
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NJT Lot 184 permit spaces 58 daily
South Orange Lots:
Rescue Squad : 7 = 86 7A = 39
First Union : 11
Second Street: #A = 17
There are 12hr meters in Lot 7, Sloan St, Library Lot and Comstock Place
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User58
Citizen
Username: User58
Post Number: 30
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 6, 2004 - 1:24 pm: |
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$840.00 PER YEAR = $70.00 PER MONTH = $2.80 PER DAY FOR A 25 DAY WORK MONTH...............SOUNDS CHEAP TO ME GIVE UP YOUR SPACE AND WALK! |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 61
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:30 am: |
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The price increase % was not explained in the letter from SO Parking Authority. NJ Transit seems to place the increase solely on SO Parking Authority. Government agencies owe the public an explanation when they increase fares and prices. They also should have advised of the planned increase and allowed the public an opportunity to comment on it. This was not done and further dilutes the public's confidence in the government. |
mrosner
Citizen
Username: Mrosner
Post Number: 1601
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 - 9:48 am: |
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Fred: The next Parking Authority meeting is on 12/14/04 at 7:45 p.m. Anyone who has questions about the rate increase should go to the meeting or send an email to the executive director or to one of the parking authority commissioners. There is a section on the village website giving contact information for the parking authority.
http://www.southorange.org/parking.asp |
Jeff DuBowy
Citizen
Username: Jeffd
Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 10:45 am: |
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Fred - I agree with your sentiment. This matter should have been explained - the public does have a right to know. Yesterday's article in the NR adressed the matter. For the record - there are 113 residents and 131 non-residents currently issued permits for the NJT lot. Permit rates in the SOPA lots, available to SO residents only, have not increased in several years. As Trustee Rosner advised - SOPA meetings are open to the public, they are also broadcast on our local cable station. As I have indicated on these boards previously, I am always available for question or comment.
Jeff DuBowy - SOPA Commissioner |
Taylor M
Citizen
Username: Anotherusername
Post Number: 203
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 10:49 am: |
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Jeff-
Shouldn't it be the other way around? Why aren't 131 South ORange residents should have first dibs on permits. |
Jeff DuBowy
Citizen
Username: Jeffd
Post Number: 7
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 11:03 am: |
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The NJT lot is owned by NJT. The lot is available to anyone. First come first serve. The commuter lots owned by SOPA follow a different set of rules, and are available only to residents of South Orange. We can not control who purchases permits for the NJT lot. This skew to non-resident is not surprising. If a resident is a permit holder in the NJT lot, they would probably give up the permit when their name came up for a permit in the SOPA lot. The SOPA lot is $225 annually. Hope this helps.
Jeff
http://southorange.org/parking.asp |
Jeff Alexander
Citizen
Username: Jalexander
Post Number: 57
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 10, 2004 - 3:15 pm: |
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Jeff,
Can you please provide a contact name/number at NJ Transit for people who want to complain about this insane rate increase?
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Jeff DuBowy
Citizen
Username: Jeffd
Post Number: 8
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
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I'll see what I can find out - |
Jeff DuBowy
Citizen
Username: Jeffd
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 13, 2004 - 4:13 pm: |
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I was given a customer service number 800-772-2222. You might want to contact NJT spokesperson Dan Stessel. He did speak with Shaun McCormack from the News Record for the article published last Thursday. Hope this helps. ** Reminder ** The SOPA meeting is tomorrow night Dec 14th @ 7:45pm Village Hall. |
fred block
Citizen
Username: Zachary2
Post Number: 62
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 - 1:39 pm: |
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Now that the rates went up maybe someone could clean up the broken windshield glass that has been in two separate parking spots for over a week and maybe someone should patrol the lots to avoid this from happening.
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