May 21, 2009 9:06 pm US/Eastern
Metro-North Station Adopts Valet Parking System
Passengers: This Is A Gift From The Commuting Gods
SCARBOROUGH, N.Y. (CBS) ―
The MTA has named a familiar face as its new interim CEO. Long Island Railroad president Helena Williams will take over the post being vacated by Eliot Sander.
She'll be in charge of Metro-North, which saw ridership down almost 3 percent over last year.
But demand for commuter parking remains as strong as ever.
CBS 2 HD has learned of a creative way one town is addressing the commuter parking problem.
The mad dash for the morning train has mellowed considerably at Metro-North's Scarborough station thanks to a valet parking system that commuters have come to love.
"These guys are doing a great job. It's a nice greeting in the morning," said Phil Horowitz of Briarcliff Manor.
The valet system was introduced when dozens of spots were lost to equipment for a station re-construction project.
With valet parking every inch of the parking lot can be put to use.
"Self-parking would take up space. We're maximizing space. We'll stack cars in aisles," said Ray Gutierrez of Pro-Park.
"You never don't have a space. It's a tremendous success," Guy Rotondo of Briarcliff Manor.
Rotondo said he no longer has to catch an early train in order to find a parking spot. And Ned Midgley said letting the valet park the car gives him time to put his son on the school bus.
"It allows me to leave a little bit later, and accommodate his schedule, without having to worry about coming down here and parking or potentially using the pay lot," Midgley said.
To pay for the valet service Briarcliff Manor raised the cost of a parking permit by $200 a year. And it's allowed the town to eliminate a waiting list for parking spots.
Across the Metro-North system, demand for parking permits varies widely. In Cortlandt, Middletown, and Mount Vernon east, there is no waiting list. But in Pelham and in Rye, it's a different story.
There are hundreds of names on their waiting lists. In Rye you'll wait a decade to get a permit.
Rye officials said they may consider valet parking.
Meanwhile, many who park at Scarborough hope the valet will stay -- even when the construction equipment goes away.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Garnett's Jumper Gives Celtics OT Win Over Knicks 13 mins ago
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments