Islip public hearing Monday on new parking fees for Bay Shore LIRR station

Long Island Rail Road riders who park their cars at the Bay Shore train station will get a new fee early in the new year.

This marks the first LIRR lot within the Town of Islip that will charge for parking. Residents will be able to purchase a yearly permit for $90, while nonresidents will have to pay $200.

Five meter machines will be installed -- three on the north side, which is Penn Station-bound, and two on the south side, where the last stop is Montauk -- for the nearly 500 new metered spaces. Some spaces will be metered for daily parking at $3 per day and others will start at 12 hours for $2. The program begins Jan. 4.

A public meeting has been set by the town for Monday night at 7 at the Bay Shore-Brightwaters Public Library for residents to learn more about the changes.

The topics for the meeting, as listed on the flier for the program, include "increased safety and security measures, cleanup of the overpass, walkways, pavement and landscaping, improved lighting, installation of security cameras" and measures to "prevent people who are parking for the ferries from taking spaces intended for LIRR commuters."

The town -- which has spent $750,000 for new meters at three locations in Islip, including the LIRR lot -- and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority co-own the lot, and once the meters there become profitable, a revenue-sharing agreement for proceeds will go into effect, a town spokeswoman said.

The first phase of the town's parking-meter program began over the summer at the town-owned Maple Avenue docks near the Fire Island ferry terminals. Since its inception, the meters there have generated $135,000 in revenue, according to town figures. Parking tickets for meter violations start at $75. Nearly 550 tickets were issued at the Maple Avenue docks between July 4 and Sept. 30, according to the town. The third phase, expected to follow the LIRR lot, is for meters to be installed in the Main Street business corridor.

Several LIRR riders awaiting a train to Penn Station on a recent weekday morning said they were displeased with the costs of the meter plan, which would tack on to the $377 monthly LIRR pass and $116.50 monthly pass to use the subway to complete their commute once they get into New York City. Some said they would travel to other LIRR stations where the parking remains free.

Brian Murray, 35, who has been commuting daily for eight years to his job as a technology director in midtown Manhattan, said he likes the convenience of the Bay Shore station, which is close to his home, so he will pony up the money for a yearly parking pass.

"I think this is being driven by the popularity of Fire Island, making money from those who park their cars here then walk down to the ferry. They're trying to cash in," Murray said. "I'm annoyed, but these people are coming out here, they're spending money in my town. . . . I don't want to pay it, but what are my options?"

Joe LoBue, 62, of Brightwaters, who works as an addiction counselor in Jamaica, Queens, said the reason the town has given for the meter implementation -- officials have said they need the money to rehabilitate and upkeep the parking lots -- is "a crock of nonsense."

"I pay $1,000 a month in taxes," LoBue said. "Ninety dollars here, $90 there, it's not going to break my lifestyle. But enough is enough. I'm going to park my car on a side street."