Bicycle storage desperately needed at Union Station

It's taken several years of persistence but I agree it's time to close the SeeClickFix issue on this. I will let the City know. Congrats to everyone who made it happen!

I'm closing this with a note that, while the new covered racks are a major improvement, there is still a very heavy public demand for secure overnight (indoor/bike station) parking at Union Station. The small indoor room at the station has a waiting list of many years. ECC and the City recently conducted a survey of 750+ cyclists that helps illustrate the demand - they will announce results in summer 2011.

I saw these last week. I would say this is fixed!

needs to be fixed

My suggestion is to give credit where credit is due, and close out the issue. The City and the Parking Authority deserve acknowledgement for getting this facility built. We could open a second ticket down the road requesting secure, indoor bike parking, but I'd personally err on the side of a "one ticket, one fix" philosophy.

Kudos to Bill Kilpatrick, Sammy Parry, Eugene Colonese, and Mike Piscitelli for the roles each of them played in rolling out these awesome new bike racks.

Image of new racks

Looks like the new, covered bike racks are installed now next to the guard booth at the station, with 100+ new spaces. This will be a huge improvement.

Do folks here feel it is sufficient to close the issue, or should we keep it open until additional secure (indoor, locked/guarded) parking is also provided similar to other major train stations?

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2011/04/06/gripe_of_the_day/doc4d9c87e09168b754312724.txt

Hi Mark- Sorry for the delay. I didn't realize you asked for an update.

I spoke with Sammy Parry in early December and he said the new spots would be installed within weeks - in the mulched area between the garage and the open-air lot.

But I was there today, and nothing has happened. That area was plowed, so I thought it might be open for scooter parking, but the guard said he had no idea when the spaces are going to be installed or if scooter parking will even be included.

The bike racks were mostly empty, but I was told you still can't park a scooter there. No choice but to take a car until the snow melts around "no parking" signs on State so we can lock up there.

Hey Brian, just curious if you heard back from Sammy Parry.

Any news, Brian?

Response from NHPA central office was that scooters are not going to be allowed. Was referred to Sammy Parry @ Union Station itself. Left him a message... we'll see what happens, but I'm not optimistic.

I was told, 2 yrs ago, that this would be changed within weeks. Then within months. Now not at all. Frankly, this is a little maddening.

I thought that scooters were included in the plans for the expansions. You can park a scooter at every other station on the Metro North line except New Haven. You can park one anywhere in Manhattan these days, and most other cities have realized that it makes sense to reduce congestion by encouraging people to do things other than get in their car, drive, and park. Perhaps the problem is that the NHPA revenues depend on paid parking, and there is no incentive for them to discourage driving as a result. Just a guess.

When I tell people that you can't park a scooter at New Haven's train station, they always have the same reply: "seriously?"

I called there a few moments ago and left a message.

Incidentally, I asked a guard about this last week and he said that it was his understanding that there would NOT be scooter parking in the new area.

The reason: there's gasoline in the scooter's tank.

Never mind that the cars in the garage all have gasoline.

I wish I was joking about this. You would think I asked if I could leave an ICBM there for the day.

Thank you TT&P for the update on construction schedule.

Note the NHPA director said on October 1st that "shovels will hit the ground in two to three weeks" (see article below).

Brian, a significant amount of scooter parking was presented in the initial drawings but I'm not sure now. Do you want to try calling Bill Kilpatrick to find out?

"Closing and agreed with Tang that the new racks are great.
Save the clicky sign!"

The solari board is being replaced. The new LEDs are already purchased and are being worked on by the DOT, installation is set for spring, along with the new announcement system.

"Closing and agreed with Tang that the new racks are great.
Save the clicky sign!"

The solari board is being replaced. The new LEDs are already purchased and are being worked on by the DOT, installation is set for spring, along with the new announcement system.

What about scooter parking?

I would appreciate if the questions about scooter parking could at least be acknowledged.

The framework that will be used for the bicycle facility at Union Station is being fabricated. The wait on construction is a result of this process. Once fabrication has been completed, a construction date for the project will be announced.

Thank you.

When is construction scheduled to begin?