Solutions to PHS Parking Dilemma Are Endorsed by Borough Council

Candace Braun

On the heels of Princeton Township's endorsement, a set of solutions to parking problems at Princeton High School received endorsement, albeit with some reservation, from Borough Council.

An ad hoc parking committee came before Council on June 9 with a list of short- and long-term solutions to the ongoing parking problems that have escalated with the onset of construction at the high school in January. While some Council members felt the solutions still needed work, they endorsed the ideas in an effort to move forward. For example, it was unclear as to whether all parties involved would agree to the solutions suggested.

Some of the short-term solutions the committee suggested include reserving 90 parking spaces on Walnut Lane and Franklin Avenue for high school students by distributing parking permits; dividing the teacher's lot to include 25 additional parking spaces; and temporarily reserving parking on parts of Houghton Road for teachers and residents.

Another proposal would involve widening part of Walnut Lane, creating 30 student-only spaces.

The committee emphasized the need to start implementing some of these solutions as soon as possible.

"There's a real pressing need to come up with solutions and implement them before the start of the school year in the fall," said Rachel Howard, a parking committee member.

She added that a partial solution to the problem would result in additional problems. Since the close of a 100-space faculty lot in December which was replaced by a temporary lot at John Witherspoon Middle School, both teachers and students have been battling for any open spaces closer to the high school that are not marked for two-hour parking. Ms. Howard said that this would most likely continue to occur if only a small portion of the proposed parking solution is implemented.

Parking problems are also expected to worsen in September, as additional trailers to be built at the high school will remove 45 more faculty spaces, forcing more faculty to find spaces on the road, said School Board President Anne Burns.

"Next September we'll really be under construction at the high school and we'll have no place for students to park," she said.

Subhead: Westminster Parking

Two other solutions suggested by the committee would involve an agreement between the high school and Westminster Choir College, also located on Walnut Lane. A temporary solution would involve a gravel lot on the college campus that could be shared by students at Westminster, as well as the high school. A long-term solution would involve building a shared parking deck at the college, which has a current enrollment of 410 students.

According to Walter Perry, dean of students at Westminster, the college would be open to creating a gravel lot to share with the high school.

"I think anyone would appreciate anything that provides relief [to the parking problem]," he said. "It seems like a gravel lot would be an affordable, doable solution."

Located across the street from the high school, Westminster has its share of parking problems, as well. Many students at the school use open parking spaces on the street when campus spaces are unavailable.

This past year the college issued 200 parking permits for the 170 spaces they have available, said Mr. Perry. The school issues more permits than spaces because many of the students also commute to Rider University on various days of the week. However, there is clearly a parking problem for the college students, as well.

"There are days when students come in and its first come, first serve," said Mr. Perry. "When we don't have enough spots, [students] have to park on the street."

However there are many more than 30 students that look to the streets for spaces. Students without permits, along with all 110 freshman, who aren't eligible for permits, have to look for parking elsewhere.

Mr. Perry said that he agrees that the problem is likely to worsen when students return in the fall: "[Parking is] probably not too bad right now from our perspective ... but once construction really gets started it will definitely contribute to what has already been a problem for everybody."

The parking committee will now draw up specific actions to implement these solutions, which must be voted on by both Council and Township at a later date.