Branchville Parking Fees Approved
There will soon be daily and annual costs to park at the town's Metro North station.
It will soon cost $250 a year or $5 a day to park at the Branchville train station, the Board of Selectmen decided on Wednesday night.
The fees won't be implemented until the Parking Authority decides on, and the selectmen approve, a maximally equitable way to dole out 130 annual permits.
Possibilities discussed included a lottery system, first come first serve or giving daily commuters priority by requiring they show proof of continuous Metro North ridership. In addition to 130 permitted spaces, there will be 20 spots for occasional riders with the daily fee attached.
"Danbury, Bethel and Redding are all doing it," said First Selectmen Rudy Marconi on charging to park at train stations. Wilton's two stations are free, but Marconi said that Wilton First Selectman Bill Brennan is also considering fee models.
A few commuters at the meeting who spoke during discussion on the motion to approve fees said they didn't understand why the town would start charging to fix aspects of the Branchville lot—things like potholes and lighting—when its frequent users had no issues with them. They also reiterated fears that permits would end up in the hands of folks who don't need them as much as they do.
Marconi said the lot needs a total overhaul and is a liability risk in its current condition.
ChrisMcQuilkin
4:28 pm on Thursday, July 29, 2010
Where is the spreadsheet showing that $250 is the correct amount to be charging for parking? Or did we picked $250 because it's what other towns - with other needs - chose.
Even the commuters - the users of the parking lot - showed up at the meeting saying they are not bothered by the occasional pothole - which makes sense seeing they drive in the parking for a total of two minutes a day - yet they will be charged $250 none-the-less. It would be like going into a store and the owner TELLS you what you will be buying.
I thought we were supposed to have representational government.
Where is the spreadsheet?
Remember this come election day.
John Symon
10:00 pm on Thursday, July 29, 2010
Why not charge for parking at the municipal lot on Governor Street? Or the Bailey Avenue lot (talk about potholes). Those are in even worse shape.
Of course, I jest.....
Just another tax.....
Call it what it is.
David Rizzo
4:28 pm on Monday, August 2, 2010
I agree with the other posters that the amount needs to be reasonably correlated to actual needs, and that we need to think long and hard about the optimal cost structure. There are plenty of non-commuter occasional day-trippers (the NYC shoppers and theater and museum goers) who'd gladly pay - and are easily able to pay - $250/year just for the convenience of always having a permit and not having to compete for a day-parking spot. As a day-to-day commuter for 8+ years, my biggest fear is not being able to secure a permit. If that happens, what the hell am I supposed to do? Do I walk three miles in the dark along Route 7 to get to and from the station? Do I join the frantic exodus to Wilton and Cannondale. Do any of the selectmen or parking personnel know what kind of a jam they're fixing to put people in? Thanks Ridgefield for the stress and for making it even harder for me to earn a living.
David Rizzo
4:51 pm on Monday, August 2, 2010
According to the Town's website, Parking Authority meetings are held on the first Friday of every month at 8 am in the Town Hall Small Conference Room.