The Coaster
Thursday, June 1, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Coaster
No Result
View All Result
Home Asbury Park

City Residents Discuss Pros and Cons of Paid Parking

by The Coaster Editorial Staff
December 4, 2014
in Asbury Park
48
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare via EmailShare on Twitter

 

coaster-news-200-newBy DON STINE

Some Asbury Park residents told officials this week they would like to see either free parking or reduced parking rates on city streets during the winter months although many acknowledge the state would be critical of the reduction in revenues for the city.

The comments were made at a meeting this week to discuss solving Asbury Park’s long-term parking problem, which is not unique among coastal towns.

“Asbury Park is not unique (regarding parking), per se, but it has unique traits that cannot be found (elsewhere),” said Timothy Tracy, executive vice president of Desman Associates.

City Manager Jack Kelly said that Desman has been retained, since June, by Asbury Park to do a study on the city’s parking issues.

“And they have drawn on the best for Asbury Park – from Chicago, Cleveland and New York,” he said.

Tracy said his company is doing an ongoing analysis on parking, including the central business district, Main Street, the oceanfront, and other sections of the city.

“We have spent a lot of time observing, collecting data, and understanding how the city’s parking works,” he said.

He said the company is more than half-way through on its city-wide analysis and that another report will be coming soon next year.

“We are not quite there yet but we will let you know where we are at some point in time. We need some sense of what works and what doesn’t- but we may not have specific answers yet,” he said.

Desman Senior Associate Gregory A. Shumate said that parking is basically a formula of supply and demand.

He said parking will be examined on the basis of operations, management, future demands, parking enhancements, and a cost analysis.

Desman’s initial statistics show that parking is highest on weekends, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings, throughout the parking area, primarily due to entertainment and dining venues.

Main Street has a “good balance of parking right now,” according to Desman’s early study.

In the city’s central downtown business district, parking was found to be fairly adequate during the day but a problem at night, again due to the nighttime venues.

Some suggestions to improve parking (although not part of any official report yet) include limiting some downtown parking to two to three hours at a time; machines that will explain parking regulations to patrons, and improving parking at a local state-owned garage.

After input by residents other options were proposed, such a reducing or eliminating parking in winter months, even by having to increase the fee over summer months.

As far as the waterfront, Shumate said: “I don’t know if you can ever provide enough parking for the waterfront.”

However, he said this is typical of many beach communities and that one of the problems is that parking tends to spill over into nearby residential neighborhoods in the summer months.

“The good thing is you have a parking problem- the bad thing is that you have a parking problem,” he said.

“Your parking systems need to be organized and its goal well established,” he said.

Tracy said that the cost of parking is a possible management tool and that hourly parking demands need to be explored.

“We expect rates may be modified as we move forward,” he said.

He said winter rates may be free or cheaper during the off-season while some residents said the state may object since the city is losing ratables, which effects its annual state aid funding.

Some residents said they believe off-season parking should be reduced or free. Some said they also believe charging for parking along Main Street is a good idea and creating a trolley or similar system, particularly to move people to the beach from mass transit, be explored.

Others said the parking is not user-friendly and that electric-car charging stations be considered.

Tracy said areas like the existing city hall and train station areas are also being examined for additional parking.

Related Posts

In Asbury Park School Budget Features Substantial Tax Boost

In Asbury Park School Officials Discuss Resurrecting Alternate School

May 31, 2023
Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

Condominium Complex Planned Adjacent to the Wonder Bar

May 24, 2023
Beach Cinema Still for Sale

Asbury Park to Receive $526,000 In Funding to Support Local Businesses

May 22, 2023
Stabbing Incident at Asbury Park High School

Asbury Park Man Indicted For Torturing, Killing Pet Cat

May 16, 2023
Farmers Market Returning to Neptune

Asbury Park Farm Stand Opening

May 10, 2023
Husband Indicted for Killing Wife, Leaving Body on Roadside in Ocean

Asbury Park Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Sex Crimes Against Teens

May 10, 2023

Trending This Week

Ocean Grove Burglar Arrested

May 31, 2023
$500,000 Grant For Fitness Path

Ocean Grove Residents Complain About Beach Badges Featuring a Cross

May 31, 2023
2 Lawsuits Filed Over Neptune City’s Marijuana Ordinance

In Neptune Another Cannabis Business OK’d

May 31, 2023
What’s Up – The Wallflowers and more, May 11, 2023

What’s Up for May 25 – June 1 2023

May 25, 2023

Advertisement

Advertise Online with The Coaster

Advertise on The Coaster to reach countless new customers for your local business.

START ADVERTISING TODAY

E-mail Newsletter

Sign up to get a free weekly newsletter to your inbox.

Subscribe

Contact Us

The Coaster
1011 Main St
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Phone: 732-775-3010
FAX: 732-775-8345
editor@thecoaster.net

Email Newsletter »

All Articles

Search Our Site

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Browse News by Town
    • Allenhurst
    • Asbury Park
    • Avon
    • Bradley Beach
    • Deal
    • Interlaken
    • Loch Arbour
    • Long Branch
    • Neptune
    • Neptune City
    • Ocean Grove
    • Ocean Township
    • Tinton Falls
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
Subscribe / Renew

© 2023 The New Coaster, LLC. All rights reserved. • Privacy Policy