| Author | Message | ||
     mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 636 Registered: 4-2002 |
Fred: That is right. Less people will use the lot. By the way I can assume that anyone who used the lot and did not put their name on the waiting list has no intention of every paying for a space. My bet is we could charge $3.00/day and it would not make a difference. Some people will not pay any price and will continue to seek free alternatives. That is fine if they can do so legally. Giving the supply and demand, I think we could charge more and fill every space if we advertised the lot (we could probably fill with commuters from Livingston without even looking elsewhere). | ||
| Guesswho Citizen Username: Guesswho Post Number: 3 Registered: 9-2003 |
Why can't South Orange parking spaces be reserved for South Orange residents? Seems like a no brainer to me. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 637 Registered: 4-2002 |
The commuter lots are reserved for S. Orange residents (largest one is by the rescue squad). There is a long waiting list to get a permit. The NJ Transit lot is open to anyone (legally they can not discriminate). The waiting list is relatively short. There are daily spaces available in that lot. There is no charge in that lot on Saturdays and Sundays (actually if you can find a space, it is free weekday afternoons and evenings too). The Shop-rite lot will not be a commuter lot. It is being used that way temporarily by commuters whom now have to pay a fee. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2003 |
You are right that certain people will not want to pay anything. However, there are many of us that continue to be on the waiting list and would be happy to pay some fee for a parking spot. But lets be reasonable and charge to going rate. If South Orange wants to limit the Shop Rite lot to South Orange people that is fine but I would be curious what they would charge those residents. South Orange should seriously consider what their purpose is when charging for the lot. Is it to generate profits and fill the lot every day. Then charge the going rate of $3.00 or $3.50 per day. Is it to keep the lot empty, then charge $10 per day. I suppose we shall see what happens on Monday Morning. By the way, my understanding is that parking is free near the tennis courts at the park. | ||
| soresident Citizen Username: Soresident Post Number: 71 Registered: 10-2001 |
I must not understand what "park" you're referring to. Please tell me you're not suggesting that someone park all day near the Baird Courts? Those many residents who bring children to classes at Baird and to local recreation programs, use the courts, or watch CHS or recreation games at the adjacent fields would certainly fight for parking restrictions if you were. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 638 Registered: 4-2002 |
SOresident: That is what he is suggesting. And since he never answered the question about where he lives, I guess it is safe to assume he is not a resident of the village. Fred: The going rate is $5.00/day in the shop-rite lot. The going rate for S. Orange residents who park in a village commuter lots is $25.00/month. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2003 |
You are correct, I am referring to Baird Courts. If the town charges that fees I would not be surprised to see cars near the courts. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2003 |
The going rate in daily lots is $3.50 not $5 and its $3 for 12 hours in meters. Let us not confuse the facts. Your point about where people reside is wholly irrelevant. This is not an issue of South Orange residents v. Non-South Orange residents. This is only an issue concerning parking for the train station. South Orange residents have more than the one lot for non-residents (which is also available to South Orange residents). It is also interesting to note that the waiting list for South Orange lots is much longer than the NJ Transit lot. South Orange residents do not have access to the Jitney from all parts of town. Many need to drive to the train station and need to park somewhere. The lots are all full. The Shop Rite lot was free (do not know why it was free for all this time) and now its $5 per day. Where do the residents seek to park their cars? Either carry rolls of quarters, park near Baird Courts, park on the street (where it is legal and be confronted by residents who do not want cars park in front of their cars) or go to Mountain Station. There is a problem with parking and it will only get worse (especially if all the redevelopments take place). | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Kevin Post Number: 85 Registered: 2-2002 |
Limit parking to 4 or 6 hours in certain lots around the center of town like the Baird Courts & school lot. Chalk the tires on random days for enforement. Make sure that it carries a stiff fine. This should weed out commuters who abuse the community parking. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 250 Registered: 8-2002 |
thank you Kevin! (from someone who pays the ~$50 fee for parking at the train station, and who frequently goes to Baird for kid activities and appreciates the parking there!) | ||
| paddy Citizen Username: Paddy Post Number: 132 Registered: 5-2001 |
I never suggested not charging for the lot. I'm prepared to pay, just not $5 a day, which comes out to about $1200 a year!!! I don't understand the rationale that it's easier to decrease the fee--this isn't actually paying for anything, it's an opportunity for the town to generate some extra income for a service. Fine with me. I do disagree that it's a not a resident v. non-resident thing. The metered parking doesn't discrimate, and it's South Orange property and we, the residents, should have first crack at it, especially since residents need to wait so long for a permit. And the reason why the resident permits are so long is because it's substantially cheaper (around $200 v. the $660 for the NJ Transit lot) I wish we had a system more like Maplewood's. Pay an annual fee, open some of the streets and let the other towns invest in jitneys or fend for themselves. | ||
| ril Citizen Username: Ril Post Number: 118 Registered: 6-2001 |
I've noticed many more cars in the NJT lot parked NOT in proper spaces this week. I guess since that lot is free after the morning rush, people are parking anywhere they can. Perhaps some of these people were using the Shop Rite lot as overflow parking. Is the Shop Rite lot also free after a certain hour? or are people being charged all day long? And if the town (or the parking authority, whatever) is charging people to park there, are they assuming any legal responsibility for safety or security in that lot? It's pretty dark back there. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 639 Registered: 4-2002 |
Kevin: We do have restrictions on certain streets and will put them at the Baird center if need be. Obviously, there are people like Fred who will go to any extreme to park for free (Hey Fred, is your name on the NJ tranist lot list yet?). Pete: A lot of us enjoy being able to park at the baird center without having to worry about commuters from other towns trying to park here. Fred: If it is not about residents vs. non-residents why have you avoided the question about where you live. It is clear that you live in another town. That is fine, but why do you think it is the village's responsibility to find commuter spaces for non-residents? We have increased the number of spaces for residents and will continue to try to find more. It is up to NJ Transit to provide parking at their train stations for commuters. A lot of people choose to live in S. Orange because of the convenience to the train station. Many people walk, get rides, or park. It is a convenience we pay for. If you choose to live in a town that does not have a rail station, that is your choice, but don't expect S. Orange to subsidize parking for non-residents. And in the end, it appears that most of the people parking in the shop-rite lot are non-residents. If you think the $5.00 is too much, then you are free to park elsewhere (Maplewood, Milburn, Orange, etc) and use the stations in those towns (of course I don't see them building parking lots for non-residents either). If for some reason the shop-rite construction continues to be delayed then maybe we need to look at offering a reduced rate for residents. | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2003 |
Good point about the meter spots. I agree that South Orange should allocate additional spots for its residents. In fact, why not allow resident parking on the nearby streets by permit. Permits only given out to South Orange residents for a fee. This is done elsewhere in NJ. Good point about the town now assuming for parking in the lot. When you charge someone to use the lot, the town will be responsible to maintain the condition of the lot and safety. Just add another bill onto South Orange budget. Revenue generated will be low as discussed before because people will not pay almost double what the going rate is in town. Maybe a better alternative would have been to close the lot completely to avoid any potential suits in the future. | ||
| vermontgolfer Citizen Username: Vermontgolfer Post Number: 85 Registered: 12-2002 |
fred, if they close the lot completely, then tell me, where do the folks who go to the Gaslight, the bank, the Shop Rite liquor store park,etc. heh? | ||
| fred block Citizen Username: Zachary2 Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2003 |
Let me state a fact that at no point did I not agree to pay for parking. I am more than happy to pay and should pay for parking in a lot. My only issue is the cost of $5 applied to both residents and nonresidents. That is why the issue of resident v. nonresident is irrelevant. I understand people walk or get rids to the train station but there are many residents who do not and cannot obtain a spot in a lot. Why does the town feel that it is ok to charge $5 a day if they charge in their lots $25 per month? Who came up with this pricing scheme? Parking is available for the stores near the lot already. The lot parking spaces at issue are removed from the stores. I never stated that I would park near the tennis courts. My only point is that some drivers may do this. | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 640 Registered: 4-2002 |
Fred: You implied that you were going to park by the Barid Center. I am glad to hear your concern about residents being charged the same amount as non-residents. We did not want to encourage commuters to use the lot since there is an expectation that construction will start in the spring. If there are further delays we will consider the different options. I do not understand why you have not put your name on the NJ Transit lot list. If you don't object to paying for a spot, then you would have put your name on the list. As pointed out earlier, the actual wait has been shorter than what was estimated. Clearly, you are looking for a free space and obviously will continue to explore whatever free options are available. Most residents who live on those streets do NOT want commuters parking all day on their streets. We get many complaints about on-street parking already. Maybe your home town could consider a jitney service to the S. Orange Train Station? | ||
| Guesswho Citizen Username: Guesswho Post Number: 4 Registered: 9-2003 |
Carpooling to the station is another option not discussed. Four people parking in the ShopRite lot would pay a whopping $1.25 a day each. Whoopdedo! Fred, it you don't like the charge, no one says you have to pay. Just go somewhere else! | ||
| kevin Citizen Username: Kevin Post Number: 86 Registered: 2-2002 |
Is there any large parcel of vacant land in Newark (preferably Ivy Hill or Vailsburg section)? Maybe an entrepreneur can start a shuttle to the train station and charge monthly or yearly. All of the train commuters from Livingston, West Orange, Florham Park and other surrounding towns who are not fortunate enough to have a parking permit or access to a Jitney could utilize this service. I am not picking on Newark, but I think that this is probably the only close place that land would cheap enough to make it work. | ||
| nwyave Citizen Username: Mesh Post Number: 108 Registered: 1-2003 |
We should think very carefully (i.e don't do it) before granting permits on residential streets for train parking. It would definitely take away from the beauty of some streets near the train station (i.e Tillou, Highland, Beach, Montrose area). Maplewood Ave has some beautiful houses and I think that all the permit parking on that street takes something away from those houses. Can't understand why there would be any objection about charging a fee at Shop Rite lot. I could very easily feel comfortable also charging a higher rate to non SO residents as well. SO residents pay very high taxes to live in this town and one of the primary benefits is having the train station in such close proximity. Why shouldn't folks who want to benefit from this station and don't live in the town and want to park in town owned lot, share in some of the financial burden? Its not like SO downtown is a major metropolis where nonresident commuters are pumping money into the town's retail stores. Most nonresident commuters I imagine park in Shop Rite and do a direct to/from the train to their car. If a private venture were to set up a parking lot at the Shop Rite lot, I would think the monthly charge would be very much in the neighbor hood of $100 per month. |
