Oceanside, CA News

October 10, 2012

Transit riders and North County Transit District customers who have had problems finding parking spaces at NCTD facilities should have an easier time of it, thanks to the new law. AB 2104, which Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on September 28th, authorizes public transit agencies to enforce their own parking restrictions and help alleviate parking congestion problems.

NCTD-run parking facilities; including the lots at Oceanside Transit Center, Vista Transit Center and Escondido Transit Center, have long been plagued by parking problems. Parking by non-transit customers, overnight parking, and abandoned vehicles have caused congestion at NCTD and other public transit facilities. Without the authority to enforce parking regulations, transit agencies had little power to do more than monitor the lots.

NCTD sponsored AB 2104, in part, because of an increase in customer complaints from the agency’s passengers who could not find parking.

"The lack of enforcement capabilities has been a growing problem for our district," said Tom Zoll, NCTD Chief of Security. "This bill will allow our agency to better provide parking and transportation services to our customers."

"Thousands of people use public transit every day and many of these people are dependent on these transit parking facilities," said Assemblyman Rich Gordon, who authored the bill and represents the 21st district.

NCTD offers free parking for customers at all COASTER stations (except at Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego) and at all SPRINTER stations with the exception of the California State University, San Marcos station. NCTD also offers seven electric vehicle charging stations – free of charge – at the Oceanside facility.

Overnight parking for up to 96 hours is permitted. Long term parking, with a two-week maximum, is allowed at all stations except at Old Town and Santa Fe Depot and in the parking structure on Seagaze Drive adjacent to Oceanside Transit Center. Carlsbad Village station now features more than 130 additional parking spaces, available on the far north end of the parking lot.

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The North County Transit District is a public transportation agency providing 12 million passenger trips annually throughout North San Diego County and into downtown San Diego. NCTD's system includes BREEZE buses, COASTER commuter trains, SPRINTER light rail trains, and LIFT paratransit service. NCTD's mission is to deliver safe, convenient, reliable and user-friendly public transportation services.