Edison train station to gain 350 additional parking spaces BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer EDISON - The Edison train station, long perceived to lack adequate commuter parking spaces, will soon be adding room for an additional 350 vehicles, with first priority given to Edison residents. The announcement was made by Edison Mayor Jun Choi early on Dec. 19. "This is a tremendous qualityof life improvement for our hardworking, commuting Edison residents. It's a holiday gift Edison commuters can enjoy all year long," said Choi. According to township communications director Jerry Barca, the lot will be located on 1 Truman Drive South, which is less than a mile from the station itself. From there, commuters will be able to reach the train via a 14-passenger shuttle bus, which will also stop at bus shelters, between 5 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Additional shuttles will be running during the rush hours - 6-10 a.m. and 5- 8:30 p.m. The ride from the parking lot to the train station isn't expected to be any longer than five minutes. The spaces will be available through monthly permits acquired through applications currently available at the train station. Edison residents will have priority to reserve spots until Jan. 16 and will also pay a discounted rate of $60 plus tax. Nonresidents will pay $75 plus tax. The lot is set to officially open on Feb. 4. The parking lot, which will also have a light commercial building, will be managed by the private firm Central Parking System, which operates more than 400 parking facilities in the New York and New Jersey area. The lot will have people, including security, present at all times. "It's privately run, privately owned, Central Parking - it's a private property, but its the mayor who has been out there seeking these quality-oflife improvements and a business that can provide them," said Barca. People interested in a parking space at the new lot should go to the Edison train station, where preprinted applications are available in "take one" racks. Customers will be asked to fill out their personal information, enclose a check or money order for the first month's payment, and return the documents to the firm's main office in Manhattan at 360 West 31st St., 12th floor, New York, NY 10001. "While there continues to be a need for commuter parking in Edison, we believe this effort will ease the demand," said Choi.