State plans for bigger lot

Additions in the works for local Park & Ride

By: Candice Leigh Helfand
   Commuters will have an easier time finding their way to work, thanks to planned additions to the N.J. Turnpike Exit 8A Park & Ride, on the southbound side of Route 130.
   The Park & Ride has 499 spaces now, and plans call for 414 more. The 4-acre lot will be increased to 7.5 acres.
   Construction for the project began Nov. 4, once the Park & Ride received a $2.2 million construction grant. Grounds off Friendship Road are already cleared, and a lit gravel lot will be in place by February 2007.
   A press conference was held Wednesday at the Park & Ride to discuss the improvements.
   Once winter passes, the lot will be paved and lined.
   Michael LaPolla, executive director of the N.J. Turnpike Authority, said he is excited about the project. He said it is difficult for commuters to park.
   "These spaces were even tougher to get than tickets to a Rutgers football game," he joked.
   Mr. LaPolla also said that lighting the new spaces will make the area even better.
   "Not only will there be more spaces, but there will be more spaces that are safe," he said.
   Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, also at the press conference, cited rapid growth in the area’s population as a reason for compounding traffic issues. She added said that additional commuters result in congestion problems and harm the environment.
   According to Ms. Greenstein, a Democrat who represents South Brunswick, and Mr. LaPolla, it’s all about making things better for local residents.
   "By getting additional commuters off the road, we will be helping to foster a better quality of life for the residents in Central Jersey," Ms. Greenstein said.
   "The project will provide relief for hundreds of commuters," state Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri said in a press release.