Commuter Rail Popularity Leaves Towns Struggling to Find Parking

The good news about the quarterly passes for the Sharon Commuter Rail stop is that they are popular with residents looking to get a parking spot for the train. The bad news is that they are too popular. According to Treasurer Bill Fowler, there is an 80 person waiting list for the passes and parking is extremely limited for commuters looking to utilize the train.

“The biggest problem right now is the demand for parking exceeds the amount of spaces we have available,” Fowler recently told the Sharon Board of Selectmen.

In the past year in a half, the town has been able to utilize 17 parking spots at Eastern Bank on the corner of South Main Street and Depot Street, but the location and safety concerns when pulling out of the lot means a strict cap of 17 passes for the area.

Last quarter, 12 spots, seven of which are reserved parking were picked up at 1 School St. This quarter, the town sold 18 spots and are holding five in reserve if the MBTA’s construction in the area takes up more space.

In addition, proposed developments in town such as Rattlesnake Hill and Sharon Commons may add to the demand as other new homes and subdivisions are built around town.

“Each 10 houses will add on an average two requests for the parking lot that is already at capacity,” Fowler said.

Rebalancing the difference in price between using the quarterly rate and the daily rate is also on the table. According to Fowler, the average cost of a quarterly rate pass is $1.66 a day without holidays and weekends. The amount to park for the same amount of days with the daily rate of $4 is $240.

Fowler said he would sit down with the transportation advisory committee to work on a short term solution until a long term one is found. Ideas include a satellite parking lot with shuttles transporting commuters to the train station. The expected limited runs of the buses may leave some train riders stuck in the lot if they are running late.  

“We don't have the resources to run unlimited buses, If someone planned on being on a train at 6:10 a.m. and they are late, we will not have the capacity to get them,” Fowler said.

According to Fowler, expanding the train station’s parking lot may be a long term solution.