NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—The city government, perhaps in a hunt for money to pay for numerous new parking decks paid for with borrowed money, approved a new charge for parking on College Avenue when Rutgers has home football games.

Previously, parking on the main drag of the university was free on weekends.

But, under the new ordinance, approved unanimously on August 6 by the City Council, the parking meters on College Avenue will now charge parkers a whopping $10, but that their parking space will be good for a full 24 hours.

The change came at the request of the New Brunswick Parking Authority, a government agency created to deal with parking issues in the city that has also become one of its biggest commercial landlords.

As we reported previously, the NBPA owes more than $249 million in debt which is guaranteed by the city government, and therefore, the taxpayers of New Brunswick.

It’s not clear exactly how the new ordinance will work, and the Council struggled to provide answers to questions brought forth by New Brunswick Today.

What is for sure is that the meters, which were recently replaced, will accept credit cards as well as the Parkmobile cellphone app.

College Avenue is home to the main campus of Rutgers University and is the site where buses to the games are plentiful.  Those buses take fans to Johnson Park, a county-owned space just across from the football stadium.

Rutgers recently joined the Big 10, an athletic conference that is considered to be one of the most elite in the country.

The university is anticipating an increased turnout for football games and other sporting events, beginning with a September 13 game that pits Rutgers against Penn State.

Reporter at New Brunswick Today

Richard researched transportation, land use, history, and other topics. Investigated site plans. Attended public meetings (planning board, zoning board, parking authority board of directors, City Council) to record and help determine what was discussed. Analyzed blueprints and site plans to determine what land uses sites would be put to. Photographed sites that would be affected by proposed projects, as well as sites involved in news events. Employed Sketchup CAD to visualize new land uses, such as buildings and structures. Critiqued and wrote articles in fast-paced work environment, writing before deadlines. Made judgments as to what constituted proper material to include in articles. Created a zoning map; am working on ways to show it to the public. Consulted vintage maps to determine historic land uses.

Richard researched transportation, land use, history, and other topics. Investigated site plans. Attended public meetings (planning board, zoning board, parking authority board of directors, City Council) to record and help determine what was discussed. Analyzed blueprints and site plans to determine what land uses sites would be put to. Photographed sites that would be affected by proposed projects, as well as sites involved in news events. Employed Sketchup CAD to visualize new land uses, such as buildings and structures. Critiqued and wrote articles in fast-paced work environment, writing before deadlines. Made judgments as to what constituted proper material to include in articles. Created a zoning map; am working on ways to show it to the public. Consulted vintage maps to determine historic land uses.