Summit NJ transit parking

Submitted by SuperconductingCat t3_10jex23 in newjersey

Friends, I am looking at buying in the New Providence / Berkeley Heights area. One question on the parking situation in Summit train station…. Is it easy for non residents to park there assuming driving in at 8am on a typical weekday morning (going to NYC)? Or is it very competitive to find parking? Anything I should know? Thanks!

3

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

p4177y t1_j5k3020 wrote

If you're moving to the Berkeley Heights/New Providence area, you may want to check parking with those towns. New Providence I think does parking permits requests online sometime in March for a six month or one year parking permit for non-residents (don't remember the exact time, but it was either for Murray Hill or New Providence stations). Berkeley Heights has a waitlist for parking, but no idea on how long you'd be on the waitlist. Summit use to have a surface lot next to its resident-only garage on Broad Street, but that's been closed as the site of the new firehouse under construction. No idea on non-resident parking options there through the city.

One potential option for you (especially if you don't need to park 5x a week) is using the Boxcar app, which my wife uses on occasion when she goes into the city, because you can reserve the night before.

One other possibility depending on your schedule that I do (since I leave for work in the city early a couple times a week) is to go to Jersey City, park there and then take PATH in.

Hope this helps!

5

SuperconductingCat OP t1_j5k6xs2 wrote

Where do you park in Jersey City? Do you take 280?

1

p4177y t1_j5k7z9f wrote

I park in downtown, off of Columbus in one of the high rise garages by Grove. Depending on timing and weather, I may walk down a little farther to Exchange Place to catch either the PATH from Newark or Hoboken.

Parking is about $18 a day, but I only do it 2x a week max, so it's doable.

As far as getting there, I take 78, which you would be too if coming from Berkeley Heights or New Providence. 280 is too far north.

2

remarkability t1_j5kx3jw wrote

Another thing to consider beyond using the Gladstone Branch of the M&E line (and walking/biking to your closest station) is the NJTransit 986 bus, which connects to Summit (and also to New Providence/Plainfield stations). https://content.njtransit.com/pdf/schedules/bus/986

Between these three stations, you have lots of options. Definitely opt for a walkable or bikeable last leg if you can.

Lakeland Bus has its 78 service running down 512 into Berkeley Heights, then Springfield Ave through New Providence and into Summit, then Broad St to the Summit Park & Ride, then express to PABT. It’s good to know that route as an option.

2

SuperconductingCat OP t1_j5l7svk wrote

Oh great! I see 986 goes through Mountain Ave, good to know this!

1

remarkability t1_j5lbmvg wrote

Yes! If you’re going to be by Mountain Ave west of Murray Hill Station, it’s two zones to Summit. East of Murray Hill, it’s one zone. It does not serve the area west of Summit Medical Group Berkeley Heights Urgent Carw Center (it goes south of 78 there).

If you are getting a monthly rail pass, you can take this bus for free (or any NJT bus up to any 9/10/11 zone ride, depending on the cost of your station’s monthly pass in the “Travel Flexibility” section here: https://www.njtransit.com/tickets/train-tickets )

Get a monthly if you’re making 15+ round trips a month or like the convenience of not having to deal with train/bus tickets. They go by the calendar month, so you may have to get a weekly or 20-trip to get to the beginning of the next one.

Otherwise, do 20-trip “flex” passes if you make 8-15 round trips a month, and single tickets if fewer than 8 round trips a month.

For max flexibility, I’d suggest a monthly pass from Murray Hill or Berkeley Heights, that way you can either take the Gladstone Branch or get on/off at Summit via the bus or car.

Don’t forget pretax transit benefits! https://www.njtransit.com/taxbenefits

2