Spring Street Garage Is Open; Other Garages no Longer Full

Candace Braun

The new Spring Street garage opened on Saturday, May 8, and has been up and running ever since.

"[The garage] is ... operational 24 hours a day," said Robert Bruschi, Borough administrator. "We have had some minor glitches in the operating systems but we have staff there to manage them."

Walking by the facility on Monday, passersby could see three attendants on duty to help drivers use the new parking machines. However for those who already know how the machines work, parking is now speedy and effortless. Sliding a Smart Card or credit card in and out of the machine takes mere seconds, after which drivers may pull through and find parking spaces, said George Cumberbatch, an attendant at the new garage.

"We've been having steady traffic, but it's transient," said Mr. Cumberbatch. He said that the garage has been getting a lot of business, but they have not had to put up the "Garage Full" sign thus far.

On Monday, the first workday since the garage opening, all three garages in the downtown area had open parking spaces. It appears that the Borough has done what it set out to do: take some of the strain off parking availability in Princeton.

The new garage's daily rates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. are $1 per hour for up to four hours, and $1.50 per hour thereafter. Overnight rates from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. are 25 cents for every two hours parked, or $1.50 to park for the entire night.

Overnight rates will also be in effect on Sundays and holidays, which include New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Smart Cards, which can be used in the new garage and at downtown parking meters, are available for purchase at the new garage and at Borough Hall.