To:

Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Commissioner New Jersey Department of Transportation

Kevin S. Corbett, Director NJ TRANSIT

To the attention of:

Governor Phil Murphy

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer

Senator Joseph A. Lagana

Assemblywoman Lisa Swain

Assemblyman Christopher Tully

Fair Lawn Mayor Kurt Peluso

We implore NJ Transit (NJT) and the NJ Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to sell the Radburn Train Station commuter parking lots to the borough of Fair Lawn. This will allow our borough to better address a severe shortage of commuter parking spots. 

The commuter parking lots near the main train station (Radburn) are full by 7:30 A.M. The shortage of parking spots will become even worse as Fair Lawn continues to grow (Fair Lawn is home to approximately 33,000 New Jerseyans in Bergen County. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 14.2% of workers in Fair Lawn ages 16 and above use public transit to get to work). 

Unlike many other towns on the NJT Bergen Line, Fair Lawn does not own its commuter parking lots. They are owned by NJT and the NJDOT, which limits the borough's ability to address the dire shortage of parking. Specifically:

1. Fair Lawn cannot limit the number of non-resident parking spots nor the rate of increase to the non-resident rate. This makes Fair Lawn's non-resident rate considerably lower than surrounding train stops (specifically Glen Rock and Ridgewood), which exacerbates the shortage of parking spots for Fair Lawn residents. 

2. Fair Lawn cannot pave or organize the 208 lot (owned by NJDOT). The condition of the lot contributes to people parking in an unorganized manner that reduces the lot's efficiency. 

Fair Lawn officials repeatedly have requested that NJT and NJDOT sell the lots to the borough for years without success. As residents of Fair Lawn, the State of NJ, and commuters of NJT, we implore NJT and NJDT to change course and sell these lots to the borough.