Town Officials Recommend Longer Parking Hours Near Library

The moved one step closer toward more parking opportunities Monday, when the Traffic Committee and  approved a request Library Director Kathy Rieger made to extend parking on Main Street between Laurel and Cedar Streets from one to two hours.

“So many of our programs run more than one hour or, if patrons go to an hour-long program and then want to stop and pick out books, they end up parking for more than an hour,” Rieger commented early this week. “We also have people who are studying or meeting with tutors that may need more than an hour. 

"We are trying to find as many parking “opportunities” near the library as we can, and thought Main Street would be a good place to start.’

Among the very long list of library events she cited that exceed the current one-hour parking limit, were meetings, meetings, films, lectures, musical programs and fundraising events.

Police Commissioner and Traffic Committee Chair Robert Gott said that the recommendation for extended parking time would also include the section where Route 146 is, again, congruent with Main Street – this, near the intersection of Main and Kirkham Streets.  That section has shops and businesses.  Gott said the town must now contact each property owner along those two sections of Main Street that become a state highway.  The town will then submit any comments it receives to the state, which is responsible for the final determination.

“This is the only time we have input,” Gott said of decision-making by the two town bodies.  

Check back tomorrow morning to learn why the commission is denying several requested traffic signs, including a stop sign at the intersection of Route 146 and Sybil and Linden avenues in Indian Neck.