Town and University working together on new parking system

The municipality of Princeton and Princeton University are working together on a project aimed at improving the parking system in town.

The project will begin March 17 with the implementation of a new parking procedure for metered, nonpermit spaces at the Princeton Station commuter lot. Parking spaces will be associated with a number and drivers will pay at consolidated pay stations.

The pilot phase of the new system will be expanded to street parking along Alexander Street and University Place later this year. The University will meet the cost to acquire the multispace meters in the pilot phase.

"The University is pleased to be working with the municipality on this pilot project for multispace meter parking in the Princeton Station Lot," said Kim Jackson, Princeton University's director of Transportation and Parking Services.

The new system will allow the municipality to use fewer meters in the Princeton Station lot. The new solar-powered pay stations can be operated in English, Spanish, French and Mandarin. The system will provide users with a wider range of payment options, including payment by phone, while keeping rates steady at the current $.30 per hour.

Robert Bruschi, business administrator for the municipality of Princeton said, "We are very excited about the new technology. It is very user-friendly, and we are hoping that it will serve as a prototype for the replacement of some of our current technology."

Questions and feedback about the system may be directed to the Princeton Parking Operations online or at 609-497-7659.

Details about the new system are available on the Princeton Parking and on the Princeton University Transportation and Parking Services website.