OLD BRIDGE — Parking in municipal commuter lots has moved into the 21st century with the implementation of the new mobile app, Way to Park.
The township implemented the new app in August along with new pay stations. The previous honor boxes at lots for Old Bridge Park and Ride at Route 9 north and Westminster Boulevard, Route 9 north and Inverness Drive, and Home Depot on Route 9 south were phased out last month.
“We no longer need to issue the parking sticker,” Business Administrator Himanshu Shah said. “Registration requires a license plate number. When [a commuter] pays, [he or she] has to use [his or her] license plate number and the system will match automatically by license plate number.”
Old Bridge also has municipal lots on Route 9 north and Jake Brown Road, know as the Brunetti lot; 2500 Route 9 Plaza at Route 9 and Throckmorton Lane; the Knights of Columbus at the end of Frederick Street; and Carl Sandburg Middle School at Ticetown Road.
Commuters can pay with cash at the pay stations or through the app. The annual permit fee is $28.75 and the lots cost $1 a day.
Shah said police are now enforcing the parking lots through license plate readers and/or if needed, members of the Department of Public Works and township staff may point out any enforcement issues.
“Normally we try not to have an enforcement issue. … A lot of warnings are given unless we see repeated offenders – then we will take action,” he said.
A resident attended the Township Council meeting on Sept. 24 and shared concerns of the lack of receipts through the new system and since the system is based on license plate numbers and user fees, a person without a permit cannot use the municipal lots.
Shah said parking in the commuter parking lots is a user-fee parking lot similar to parking at arenas. Township Clerk Stella Ward said temporary permits may be issued through the clerk’s office for a weekend trip or short-term use.
Commuter parking permits can be purchased and renewed at www.buymypermit.com/oldbridge.
