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Message |
    
Anne Mandell
Citizen
Username: Amandell
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:27 am: | 
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Hello - I am new to MOL and will be a new resident of Maplewood as of 2/25 (moving from NYC with my husband and 20 month old son). My question is about morning traffic between Summit and Maplewood and parking by the Maplewood train station around 8AM. I will be driving my son to day care in Summit each morning and then will be parking at the Summit train station and commuting to NYC from Summit. Rather than commuting from Summit I'd prefer to drive back to Maplewood and catch the train from there. Does anyone have any experience with driving from Summit back to Maplewood at around 8AM? I've heard it's impossible to find a parking spot by the Maplewood train station at that time. I'm trying to catch the 8:13 or 8:29 AM trains to NYC. Your advice/ideas are appreciated! |
Peter
Citizen
Username: Peter
Post Number: 196
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:32 am: |
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I walk to the train every morning about that time. I doubt you'll find parking. All of Baker, by the library and golf course, is filled by 7:45 at the latest. There are some streets (Harvard) east of Valley where you can park without a permit and have about a 10 minute walk to the train. |
Peter
Citizen
Username: Peter
Post Number: 197
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
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If you do find parking near the station, be sure you get a permit at town hall. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2711
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
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The drive will suck. If you are close to downtown Summit (like at Zadie's or Summit Learning Center) there is no point in driving back to Maplewood. If you are at Superkids (which is closer to Short Hills than Summit) it won't be as bad to drive back. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12507
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:01 pm: |
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Two other ideas:
1. Shift your day a little later. Some parking is legal after 9am.
2. Park on Courter Ave, Oakview Ave, or similar roads, east of Prospect St, up the hill. It is legal to park there any time between 6am and 2am, without restrictions. It's a ten minute walk from there to the station.
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John Caffrey
Citizen
Username: Jerseyjack
Post Number: 50
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:16 pm: |
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Since Summit has excellent train service and you would have to go back to Summit day care, why would you want to drive back to Mpl? |
Anne Mandell
Citizen
Username: Amandell
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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Mostly for cost reasons. It's $150/month to park in Summit, plus an extra $50/month on NJ Transit to commute in from Summit vs. Maplewood. I |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12514
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 12:54 pm: |
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Let us know what you end up doing, and welcome to Maplewood! |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2712
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 1:01 pm: |
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I think you are going to find it ends up being worth the $$ to park in Summit if it eases your anxiety in the AM/PM.
I would sign up for a month of parking/train at Summit and try the Maplewood parking thing on a couple of different days (hopefully when it isn't urgent that you get to work on time!) and see if it works.
Also, I don't know much about the jitney (I live in Millburn) but you might be able to park at home and take the jitney to the train station if parking is an issue. But then you have to wait for the jitney in the evening before you can go get your child.
Best of luck whatever you decide! |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1335
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 1:05 pm: |
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You might be able to park a ways down Maplewood Ave., near Jefferson, for those trains. It's about a five minute walk back to the train station. I used to do that very same commute.
You'll need a parking permit, which goes for over $100. (I don't know the exact figure these days. Someone else will.)
Welcome to town. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 351
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 1:10 pm: |
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Anywhere that's not walkable (except for a few exceptions) should have Jitney service, no? |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10673
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 1:46 pm: |
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The permit cost is per year, not per month. While not guaranteed, there are often spots open in the pay to park lot at the corner of Maplewood Avenue and Baker Street. However the fee to park there is $3.00 per day. |
Spqr
Citizen
Username: Spqr
Post Number: 62
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 5:22 pm: |
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The town parking permit is $160 ($180 if you want the jitney pass included) per year. I park on Oakview between Valley and Prospect everyday to catch the 8:29 train. I park up the hill at about 8:20 and make it to the train station with a few minutes to spare - so you should not have a problem at that time with parking if you're willing to quickly hoof it about a quarter of a mile. Your bigger problem may be traffic between Summit and Maplewood at that time of day. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 465
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 5:56 pm: |
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Just curious -
Why are you using Summit daycare? My son used to have speech therapy at 4pm in Summit and getting there on time was often a stressful hassle (and parking, which happened to be near the train sta.) was not easy to find either. Coming back home during rush hour was no fun either! Thankfully he is done w/speech.
Anyway, lots of people are very happy with the Maplewood Y daycare, and I'm sure there are many others. |
Anne Mandell
Citizen
Username: Amandell
Post Number: 3
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 7:57 pm: |
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I am using SuperKids in Summit because I couldn't find anything I liked in Maplewood that was available for March. I really like the Y alot but the waiting list is huge - I'm #38 at the moment! I also looked at a few other day care centers in Maplewood but wasn't comfortable with them. I'd love to find something closer to home if I could! |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 385
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 8:08 pm: |
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Anne, I'd also park in Summit. It will be worth the cost, and it will make life much easier if you are running late or get a "come pick baby up now" call, as you can take the train all the way and not have to detour in Mplwd.
I wonder if the daycare will let you park there all day? |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 468
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 9:23 pm: |
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Hi again Anne. You may have checked all the daycare options in the area, but just in case, I wondered if you saw the thread in Please Help called "new daycare on Valley". Someone posted a lengthy list of all daycare options in the area.
They also recommended to not give up the Y wait list as a lost cause and suggested that it moves quickly.
Good luck and welcome to Maplewood/S.Orange! |
Anne Mandell
Citizen
Username: Amandell
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:18 pm: |
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Hi Pdg - thanks for the "bump" re: "new daycare on Valley". I have explored several of those options but will look into a few others that I didn't know about. I'll also call the Y again tomorrow and see if I've moved up at all on the list! Thanks everyone! |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2335
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 14, 2006 - 10:30 pm: |
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I can highly recommend Tutor Time in Livingston, if you're still open to day care options. I know you've got things set up in Summit, but if you go to Tutor Time, you could get back to Maplewood about 15 minutes eariler. |
parkah
Citizen
Username: Parkah
Post Number: 164
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 8:13 am: |
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hi anne... many of us living in the hilton section of maplewood use garden of wonders daycare in union, (908) 206-1777. it's about a 7 - 10 minute drive from the center to the maplewood train station and wasn't mentioned in the "new daycare on valley" post.
let me know if you'd like more information.
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dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1339
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:27 am: |
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Anne,
Check out St. Stephens in Millburn. They have a small daycare center that's part of their preschool. I used to do exactly what you are set up to do and it's a real pain. (But we had a very good experience with SuperKids.) |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2716
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 9:31 am: |
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Anne, you'll see my list of daycares on the other thread mentioned.
We are at the Y, but I have friends who are at Superkids and St. Stephens and are very happy.
You might want to check out parking at the Short Hills train station. I'm not sure if there is any street or non-permit parking but you could call the town hall and find out. It is probably about as close to Superkids as the Summit station.
Parkah, I'll put Gardens of Wonder on the list as well! |
Anne Mandell
Citizen
Username: Amandell
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 10:38 am: |
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Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I called and there is no non-resident parking in Short Hills, Garden of Wonders has a hefty waiting list and I'm still #30 at the Y! Hopefully the daily drive to Summit and commuting from Summit won't be so bad after all! |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2717
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 - 10:50 am: |
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Anne, if you are still checking out daycares you might want to look at Zadie's in Summit. I believe they offer free parking to parents taking the train and it is walking distance to the Summit train station. Might save you some $$ at least in parking. I know 2 people who used/use them and really like them.
Also, you could post in the Millburn section to see if you can "rent" a driveway parking spot close to the SH station. |
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