Council addresses commuter issues

Permit fee increased; parking banned on Willow Lane

BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO — Commuters who park in municipally owned parking lots at or near Route 9 will see an increase in their parking permit fee this year. The price of the permit will rise from $120 to $150. The members of the Township Council approved the increase during their Feb. 12 meeting.

Councilman Jeff Cantor asked if the increase would bring Marlboro’s parking permit fee in line with other towns.

Township Clerk Alida Manco said the increase would bring Marlboro’s rate to the same as Manalapan’s. She explained that since some Marlboro residents park in Manalapan lots and some Manalapan residents park in Marlboro lots, the two municipalities try to stay aligned with the parking fees.

For someone who requests a parking permit after April 1, a pro rated amount of $12.50 per month payable in one sum will be charged. A permit holder who no longer resides in Marlboro or Manalapan during the course of the permit year must surrender his permit. The individual may apply for a pro rated refund for the remainder of the permit year.

The council also held the first reading and introduction of an ordinance which proposes an increase to the daily parking section of the Union Hill Road parking lot. The fee for daily parking is currently $1 per day and the ordinance proposes to increase the rate to $2 per day.

Manco said that increase would keep Marlboro’s parking rate in line with neighboring municipalities.

Parking in the daily portion of the lot is on a first-come, first-served basis and no decal or permit is necessary in those spaces. The daily fee must be paid by bill or coin into the drop box at the upper level near the bus shelters. The fee must be inserted immediately after the vehicle is parked and must be inserted in the slot bearing the same number as the parking stall.

The ordinance proposing the daily fee increase is expected to have its second reading and public hearing during the council’s March 5 meeting. The council may or may not take action on the ordinance at that time.

In other business on Feb. 12, the council held a second reading and public hearing on an ordinance which eliminates parking along the entire length of Willow Lane.

Willow Lane runs between Union Hill Road and Route 9 North. It intersects the highway near the Willow Pointe shopping center.

A concerned commuter attended the council meeting to ask that the parking ban on Willow Lane not occur. The man said he has parked on Willow Lane for the past two years in order to catch a commuter bus. He called Willow Lane lightly traveled and asked that the ordinance be held until a discussion about parking could be held with the police department.

Council President Steve Rosenthal pointed to a memo from Marlboro police Sgt. Joseph Lenge in which the sergeant notified municipal officials of the need to restrict parking on Willow Lane.

In his memo, Lenge described the line of cars parked on both sides of the street as causing a narrow passage for motorists.

He also noted that when commuters get off the bus on Route 9 South, that causes a potentially dangerous situation for the commuters and drivers on Route 9 since the pedestrians then have to cross Route 9 South and Route 9 North in order to return to their cars on Willow Lane.

Cantor said the main concern is the safety of residents — those who reside and drive on Willow Lane and the commuters who are crossing Route 9.

The resident agreed that crossing Route 9 in the area of Willow Lane is dangerous, but he said it is expected that if there is a bus stop across the way people will cross at that location.

Business Administrator Alayne Shepler said she frequents the shopping center in the area of Willow Lane and agreed with Lenge’s assessment of the area. She, too, was concerned about pedestrians who cross the highway.

“I would not like to see that you, as Marlboro residents, become road kill,” Shepler said. She did note that during her time spent working as the business administrator in Old Bridge, the municipality was able to have a pedestrian bridge built at one location, but only after more than 15 accidents had occurred there.

The commuter said he understood and appreciated the concern, but added that he was sure everyone who crosses the highway in the area uses good judgment when making the decision to cross.

The council members voted unanimously to approve the ordinance to prohibit parking along the entire length of Willow Lane.

Contact Rebecca Morton at [email protected]