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Approximately 65 percent of the permit holders come from Somers, Mahopac and Carmel, towns with no train stations of their own, said North Salem Town Clerk Veronica Howley. People who drive to the train from Connecticut usually go to the Purdys Station, where the parking is owned and managed by Metro-North, she added.
In the permit lot on Back Street, there are 114 spaces, including handicap-parking slots. The yearly fee for a permit is $350 for North Salem residents and $800 for non-residents.
“The waiting list used to run to around 200,” said Howley. “But with the economic situation these days, there are fewer commuters, so now the waiting list is less than 50.”
North of the permit lot on Back Street, a diagonal row of 58 metered spots provides parking for occasional commuters. The fee is $5 a day. Tickets can be purchased at the small building adjacent to the parking strip. The machine takes cash only and does not give change.
For the convenience of commuters, North Salem plans to replace the current parking meter with a state-of-the-art machine. The new machine will accept coins, bills, credit cards, smart cards, pay-by-phone and other methods of payment. The new meter will cost the town approximately $12,500, installed.
Exactly where the new meter will be placed is still under consideration. “We’d like to put it close to the station, near the steps,” said Supervisor Warren Lucas, “but we’d have to get permission from Metro-North.”
An alternate option for occasional users is to go to the North Salem Town Hall and purchase a $5 day ticket, which guarantees you a space in the permit parking lot, because not every permitted space is used every day.
Commuters can always park free of charge along Croton Falls Road or Route 202, and take a brisk walk to the station. Overnight parking in the street is prohibited during the snow season.
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