Train Station Parking Fee Shortsighted

* I am writing this letter to voice my extreme displeasure at the city of San Juan Capistrano. It recently enacted an ordinance to charge for parking at the San Juan Capistrano station, which became effective Saturday. Several years ago the city attempted to do this and was forced to drop such action. The Commuters Assn. was assured at that time that the city would never institute paid parking. Well, they’ve gone against their word.

I live in South Laguna. I have no choice but to use the San Juan Capistrano station. It is the closest station to my house. Instead of driving the car to work, which adds traffic to the streets, smog to the air and uses up our resources, I, like many hundreds of surrounding neighbors, use the Metrolink train to go from San Juan Capistrano to Anaheim daily in my travels to work. There is no other closer station and I would be forced to pay $400 a year for parking since I am not a resident of San Juan Capistrano. I do quite a bit of shopping in the area, as do many commuters.

I would like to remind people that in Del Mar they charged for parking; the station was soon closed, and a new station was opened in Solano Beach. The stores in the Del Mar area are now begging for the train station to come back, but to no avail.

I average spending approximately $100 a week in the San Juan Capistrano area. I use the gas stations near the train depot, the restaurants in that area, and I do purchase my tickets there at the San Juan Capistrano station. Most all of the commuters that take the train with me have a similar experience.

JOHN J. Di MARE

Laguna Beach

* I am a resident of Dana Point and often frequent San Juan Capistrano. I enjoy shopping and attending the many events hosted by the city, the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Assn. and the historical Mission at San Juan. I love San Juan’s country atmosphere and its unique Western flair. I’m sure the residents of San Juan enjoy Dana Point and the harbor area for its special qualities as well.

Although governed by separate political bodies, I feel the communities of Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente are of the same purpose, providing its citizens and merchants with a country-style atmosphere, a sense of community and a quality of life unavailable to most.

This quality of life was primary on my mind when I supported Measure M. I am glad to see our tax dollars are working to widen and improve the freeways and provide alternatives to one-car, one-person transportation.

The addition of the Metrolink service has brought us the convenience of a metropolitan area while allowing the quality of life found in our more rural setting.

Though expensive and a bit inconvenient, I am proud to be a Metrolink convert.

Now I find that for whatever the reason, just as soon as mass transit begins to work, some ignore our original intentions in pursuit of short-term gain. San Juan Capistrano should consider itself fortunate to have a train station. The merchants in the downtown area only benefit by its presence.

Imposition of parking fees will drive away commuters and visitors alike, further depressing the revenues of local merchants. Just ask the merchants at the Dana Point Harbor about paid parking!

As no man is an island, nor is a city. I urge the city of San Juan Capistrano to reconsider this tragic leap into urbanization. Is the parking problem in the downtown area best addressed by discouraging visitors? What about clean skies and reasonable public transportation?

DONNA VECCHIARELLI

Dana Point

* I am writing to voice my objection to the San Juan Capistrano City Council’s decision to charge $400 per year to the non-resident commuters who regularly use the parking garage adjacent to the train station.

The council’s stated goal is to discourage the commuters from using the train station and to free up parking for the residents who want to shop in the area.

What the council failed to recognize is the amount of shopping that the commuters regularly do in the area on their way to and from the station on a daily basis. But for my train commute, I would rarely have occasion to go to San Juan Capistrano and I would most likely patronize restaurants and other businesses in other areas closer to my home.

The concept of commuting by train has been a long time in coming to Southern Californians.

Now that it is finally here, we should be doing everything in our power to encourage commuters.

DANA LABOW TREVERS

Laguna Niguel