By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Non-commuters should have an easier time finding a parking space during off-peak hours at Princeton Junction train station thanks to legislation passed this week that allows parking in permit spaces during evenings and weekends.
The bill, introduced by Princeton’s former assemblyman, Reed Gusciora, is awaiting signature from Gov. Chris Christie. It makes it clear that a vacant permit parking spaces at train station lots operated by NJ Transit are available for general public use during off-peak times.
Off-peak times are the hours from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the weekdays, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
The process began with Mr. Gusciora’s personal experience trying to find a parking spot at Princeton Junction train station.
”When I went there to circle the daily lot and, low and behold, you can’t get a space and you look behind you at the permit lot. It’s empty by rush hour,” he said. “I took a chance and parked in the permit lot and got an $80 ticket. I think it’s a bad way of doing business for New Jersey transit. I would have paid for that space.”
At the Junction, the spaces are first-come, first-served to permit holders; permit holders are not assigned specific spots, said Andy Lupo, chairman of the West Windsor Parking Authority.
”In our mind is has not been completed defined,” said Mr. Lupo. “It’s a difficult bill for us to enforce and we will need direction on enforcement from NJ Transit.”
Mr. Lupo used as an example shift workers who work during the off-peak hours.
”We want to make sure there is a space available for every permit holder,” he said. “We want to figure out the best way to police it for them.”
WWPA collects the parking fees on behalf of NJ Transit, said Mr. Lupo. Permit costs are determined by NJ Transit for the lots that it owns, he said.
The WWPA has not been given any information regarding pricing for off peak times, he said.
”If a spot is going to sit empty, they should be able to use it, but they should pay for that spot,” he said. “How do you police that? There’s a lot to be discussed with how we enforce it and what the method of payment is because there is going to be no one there to collect money.”
NJ Transit had no comment on the legislation or parking fees.
The bill means that many of the spaces at the Princeton Junction train station that are owned by NJ Transit in the following lots could be used for parking for off peak parking.
* Lot 1, Station Drive, with 840 spaces, is a mix of daily and permit parking at $5/day or $65/month for residents and non-residents.
* Lot 2, Vaughn Drive, with 596 spaces, $65/month.
* Lot 3, Vaughn Drive, with 375 spaces, $65/month.
* Lot 5, Vaughn Drive, with 360 spaces, $65/month.
* Lot 6, Vaughn Drive, with 88 spaces, $65/month.
* Lot 7, Wallace Drive, with 366 spaces, is a mix of daily and permit parking at $5/day or $65/month for residents and non-residents.
The daily spaces will not be affected by the legislation. It only applies to the permit spaces.
More than 930 spaces will not be impacted because West Windsor owns them.
Those are the 331 spaces in Lot 4 on Vaughn Drive and 604 spaces in Lot 8 on Wallace Avenue. West Windsor residents are able to park in these lots for free on weekends and it is enforced with license plate checks, said Mr. Lupo.
According to West Windsor Parking Authority’s website there are long waits for parking permits at the lots.
The approximate wait time for a Wallace Road lot is 8 years, Alexander Road lot 6 years, and Vaughn Drive lot 4 years. The Wallace Road and Vaughn Drive lots are available to residents of West Windsor only.
The bill will not have an impact on parking at the Dinky station in Princeton Borough because those lots are municipally or privately owned.
”Parking is at a premium in Princeton,” said Mr. Gusciora. “We need to be realistic that after the workday has ended, the space can be utilized for non-daily commuters.”
