Holidays Increase Daily Congestion
While parking around LIRR train stations is typically a challenge, even on a regular work day, the holidays create more of a struggle for commuters in search of parking spots. LIRR spokesman Salvatore Arena said that ridership between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day increases by at least 10 percent; last year it was by 12 percent. Though the MTA is adding more trains to the schedule, that doesn’t ease the parking situation, which is operated not by the LIRR, but by individual municipalities in each town.
“Every station is different,” Arena said. “A good part of our parking is in the hands of the locality. They set the rules essentially.”
For riders taking the train out of Farmingdale, parking is limited.
According to Village Administrator Brian Harty, Farmingdale provides 540 spaces across three parking lots for residents and non-residents with a permit. Permits cost $90 annually.
Meanwhile, for those taking the train into Manhattan for a one-day event, the village provides 62 daily metered parking spaces.
“We’re not selling any [spaces] at the moment,” Harty said. “The parking situation is pretty tight… it’s at saturation.”
Farmingdale resident John Drexler said he normally drives to the train station, but decided to take his bike because of the ongoing construction of Jefferson Plaza—a transit-oriented development project providing 19,400 square feet of retail space and 154 luxury apartment units along the Long Island Rail Road. With the log-jam caused by the ongoing construction, parking continues to be an issue.
“[Parking] is an issue,” said Drexler. “It’s very difficult… Every day except Sunday.”
But, it’s not only a problem in Farmingdale, residents at the nearby Bethpage station also have encountered difficulty in grabbing a space.
“I get to Bethpage at 8 a.m. and parking sucks,” said Old Bethpage resident Joe Nappi, who hopes be one of the lucky ones with a spot. “I’ve been a permit holder for four years. There is construction all over, but the parking situation has not been addressed.”
According to the Town of Oyster Bay, there are approximately 980 spaces at the Bethpage station. A parking permit is $20 and valid for two years.
While more residents will head into the city by rail road from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, MTA officials say the increased ridership is typically during its off-peak period, like weekends and evenings. Passengers who plan to leave for the city before daily commuters can get back to their cars will face a parking shortage.
“People should know that if they are planning to go into the city, parking [around the station] can be a little bit of a problem,” said Arena. “Parking availability becomes more difficult during the holiday season simply because of the volume.”
Even so, Arena said people should not be deterred from taking mass transit. “It’s better to go into the city by train rather than by car,” Arena said. “Even after the morning rush, you tend to have a simpler day if you use mass transit.”
For parking tips and a round-up of the worst LIRR parking situations, turn to page 10A.
