MTA Fails to Solve Parking Shortage at Subway Station

It’s going to take more than a temporary parking lot to satisfy commuters irritated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

When the subway was extended to North Hollywood last year, completing the $4.5-billion system, commuters swarmed. The 750-car parking lot filled on weekdays, frustrating many motorists.

The MTA added 256 spaces, including a temporary lot with 186 spaces, after receiving complaints that subway riders, unable to find parking, were leaving their vehicles along curbs and driveways. MTA officials also suggested that motorists ride buses instead.

Two months later, motorists are again circling the North Hollywood Red Line station like sharks, and some are parking illegally.

The lot is full, “and they just keep coming,” said security guard Policarpo Gomez.

The MTA has submitted proposals for joint property development around the station, which could include up to 400 new parking spots, said spokesman Rick Jager. But he said it is not known when a decision on the proposal will be made.

Officials are not surprised that parking is still a problem, he said.

“We had always anticipated that once the [subway] system was up and running, people would use it,” Jager said. “We are thrilled to death that people are using it, but in a way we are victims of our success.”

On a recent morning, the new lot across the street and to the west of the station was full by 10 a.m. At least 10 drivers created their own spaces, parking at the ends of rows or in marked no parking zones. A gray Plymouth was left partly obscuring a stop sign on the pavement.

The original lot, which was recently repainted to create 70 new spots, was full. Nearly 30 cars were parked in no-parking zones.

Keith Freshwater of Valley Village circled the lot for at least 10 minutes before finding a spot.

He said the parking crunch has eased since the new spots were added, but it’s still a problem. Usually, he avoids parking near the station, and walks five blocks to catch the subway.

“I could circle for a half-hour some days. And some days I just give up,” he said as he speed-walked to the subway.

Gomez said the bigger lot is usually packed by 8:30 a.m. on weekdays, and the lot across the street fills up by 10 a.m.

“It’s never going to be enough,” he said.

Rute Heidner, 49, of Northridge, who takes the subway to her job as a massage therapist in Los Angeles four days a week, has resorted to parking on a street two blocks away. She said it is dangerous because she gets off work at 9 p.m. and has to walk to her car alone in the dark.

Police are expected to step up citations and ticketing of drivers who park illegally, Jager said. The MTA hopes increased enforcement will encourage people to take the bus, ride bikes, carpool or walk to the station, he said.

Jager said he isn’t sure when a decision will be made on whether to add parking spaces.

Motorists may not get relief for a while, but bicyclists will: The MTA will add 32 bicycle spaces by the end on the month, bringing the total to 76, Jager said.