Township to Continue Issuing Parking Permits at Basking Ridge Train Station

A six-month pilot program to issue up to 15 parking permits per day for a township-owned lot by the Basking Ridge train station has been made permanent, and even extended to non-residents, township officials decided.

The township clerk will continue issuing the $5 permits to residents either on the day of a planned trip, or up to one month in advance, said Township Administrator Bruce McArthur.

But the township also will now begin issuing permits to non-residents for $6 per day, as available, McArthur said on Thursday.

The Township Committee approved the continuation of the permit program on Tuesday, following a report from Township Clerk Denise Szabo.

Szabo's office at the municipal building at 1 Collyer Lane issues the permits for spots in the municipally-owned lot, which is to the rear of the trackside lot owned by New Jersey Transit. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Parking is free at the Basking Ridge and Lyons train stations on weekends, McArthur said.

McArthur said it is believed that non-residents fill many of the free, unoccupied spaces that N.J. Transit provides in a portion of the state-owned lot.

In the future, officials may assess whether to raise the fee for non-residents, depending on the demand for the permits, McArthur said. 

The township started charging last Dec. 1 for $5 daily permits to obtain a guaranteed spot at the train station off Ridge Street, just north of downtown Basking Ridge.

Police began last September to enforce four-hour parking restrictions on nearby Turner and on West Craig streets on Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Township Committee approved the in August. Residents had complained that train commuters were parking for long hours in the area of the train station.

Anyone purchasing a permit needs to bring a vehicle registration and driver's license. For more information, please contact the Municipal Clerk's office at (908) 204-3001. Additional information is available on the township website.

The permits only will be valid for the date issued. The hang-tag permits then should be tags placed in the vehicle left parked at the train station lot.