WEST WINDSOR: Wait-list fee for RR parking may rise

Kristine SnodgrassStaff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR — In an effort to whittle down the long waiting lists for parking spots at the Princeton Junction Train Station, the township Parking Authority is considering significantly increasing the application fee.
   Currently, it only costs $5 to join the waiting list for the three permit parking facilities operated by the authority. But this summer, that fee may increase to $50 or $75, said Andy Lupo, chairman of the township Parking Authority Board.
   ”We thought if we could put a little more meaningful amount, $50 or $75, then you might think twice about just adding your name because it’s $5,” he said.
   The waiting lists have become longer and longer as more people have moved into the area, he said, and it now takes years between filing an application and actually receiving a spot. But when their names finally come up, half of people turn it down, he said.
   ”The thought was, that inflates the waiting list number,” he said. “We’d rather have people who are very serious about wanting a permit.”
   The inflated waiting list also makes it difficult to judge the number of people who actually want parking spots, he said, as the authority considers another lot or parking garage.
   ”We want to make sure we know the realistic number before we start thinking about what we can build,” he said.
   The authority owns two lots: the Wallace Road permit lot, on the New York bound side of the tracks, and the Vaughn Drive lot, on the Philadelphia bound side. They are only open to West Windsor residents at a rate of $100 for three months.
   As of Wednesday, there were 1,882 people on the waiting list for the Wallace Road lot, and 968 people on the list for the Vaughn Drive lot.
   At a price well below market rate, residents are reluctant to give up their spot, Mr. Lupo said.
   ”It’s a classic case of the demand clearly outweighs the supply, by a big number,” he said.
   The third lot, owned by N.J. Transit, is located on the Philadelphia bound side of the tracks and is open to all applicants at a rate of $165 for three months.
   The waiting list at this lot is the longest, at 3,718 people as of Wednesday.
   The hope is that under the new system, fewer names will be added, and people that aren’t interested anymore will contact the authority to remove their name in exchange for a partial refund, he said.
   The fee, the exact amount of which has not yet been determined, would go towards the cost of the first permit, minus a small administrative fee, Mr. Lupo said.
   ”We’re not looking to make money on this, we’re looking to manage the wait list,” he said.
   Without permission from N.J. Transit, the authority can only increase the application fee for West Windsor residents, he said. However, the state has responded positively to a proposal, he said, and the two bodies will meet in two weeks to discuss it further.
   With support from N.J. Transit, the authority would like to institute the fee increases no later than July 1, he said.
   The Authority is also considering a Web-based system for the waiting list, so that those on the list could check the status of their application online, he said. If instituted, permit holders would be able to pay their bills online, he said.