New Garage Is Not Yet Open; Opening Date Is Still Indefinite

Candace Braun

The 500-space Spring Street garage is still not open to the public, and officials are unsure of the new opening date, said Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi on Tuesday.

The administrator said he was in a mediation all day and unable to determine the exact date the Borough predicts the garage will open.

"We are hopeful that everything will be done within the week," said Mr. Bruschi.

The garage opened briefly on Saturday, April 24, for Communiversity traffic, however only the first and second levels of the garage were open for use. Patrons paid a flat $5 fee to park in the facility, as the operating machines were not up and running yet.

Parts of the project that are delaying the opening are the need to activate telephone lines, to complete elevators, and to remove a temporary power source that is currently sitting in the middle of the Wiggins Street entrance to the garage.

Parking machines at the garage are not yet operational as the telephone lines still need to be connected, said Mr. Bruschi on Tuesday.

However, "Borough Hall ... has been selling Smart Cards at a very high volume since last week," he added.

The Smart Card machine in Borough Hall has been up and running since last Monday. Residents may purchase Smart Cards in increments of $20, $35, and $50, which will each yield a 10 percent parking credit.

Last Wednesday the Borough held a garage tour for downtown merchants, distributing free Smart Cards and promotional materials to local businesses.

Before the tour Borough Engineer Carl Peters explained the features of the garage, noting that security was one of the main concerns workers had in mind while constructing the garage.

From 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. an attendant will be available at the garage to assist patrons with questions. A button located near the elevator will allow drivers to call for assistance.

After 11 p.m., Borough Police will monitor the garage through the 35 cameras that have been installed in the facility.

Other features in the garage include thick bars strategically placed so that when cars pull into parking spots late at night, its headlights will not shine out into local residences.

"I'm really impressed to be here and get an appreciation for the garage and see how it fits into the Borough," said Kristin Appleget of the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce during the garage tour. "This really shows how well everything came together."

A website for the garage is currently under construction, and can soon be viewed at www.princetonparking.org.