Good evening,
I met with the county on Friday and they shared the following: They are well aware of the closing of the Flea Market Park n Ride in three weeks. There is in fact a 300+ car lot planned behind Goodyear tire in Monsey. However, due to certain environmental factors (one legged bats and other creations of G-D) they have to wait for additional studies and could not begin cutting trees. At this point it will have to wait until October. Stay tuned. See link for proposed detailshttp://rocklandgov.com/files/9314/2056/3941/Monsey_P__R_10_23_2014_Public_Info_Presentation.pdf and attached PDF.
In the interim, the county is in regular contact with MT (that was comforting). They are exploring quick fixes for the flea market closure.
1. This includes contact with a number of retail establishments and private lots between rt 59 and new square along rt 45. I believe they will identify something shortly. Getting a lease signed will determine timing......
2. For the central and southern commuters the County is expanding the Monsey lot behind the screen, putting in more lighting and striping the spaces.
We then discussed the long term plans for making changes to the routes and lots to accommodate the changing population demographics. They are very sensitive of our travel time to/from our homes to the commuter lots. Just as we don’t they too do not want congestion, wasting of fuel and loss of our precious time. Along with MT making adjustments to the route pickups, accommodating the riders needs and security, these ideas were floated and discussed briefly:
· A Jitney to go to a few areas and shuttle riders to the Central Park N rides.
· A stop in the Montvale GSP stop for the Chestnut Ridge neighborhoods (only if more spaces become available). MT would have to contact the State to make this work.
· The Eugene Levy Park N Ride on rt 45. Has plenty of available spaces – this would require a bus starting further North.
· The Hillcrest shopping center
· The parking lot by the SV police station,
· Rt 306 and Viola if the land is available – although that would be an approval process
· And other locations.
If you know the owner of any space that can host 50+ cars and would be amenable to it, please let me know and I will forward to the transportation planner. If you know of an owner that would accommodate us in central or north Monsey along the existing routes for a 6-9 month period that too would be very helpful as a gap filler for the void.
They were very interested in the Survey results. It helps them with allocating budget to us and MT. Please print out a few copies of the attached and ask your feller rider who may not have email to complete and fax it back for him/her. I would like to get to 500-600 replies. We have 314. Below are some results.
We left with a few to do’s on each side of the table to address the immediate concerns and will be in touch again this week.
IY’H good news will come.
Have a good night.
Duvie Koegel