The Village of Mineola just got one of their presents early.
The Harrison Avenue parking garage is fully operational and open for business, town officials said.
A soft opening was held Wednesday, Dec. 15 and allows users to park their cars in available spots for a fee associated with hours spent.
“I’m happy to have it,” Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said of the 551-space garage. “It was a long, arduous process and I appreciate the combined work of the MTA, 3TC, our DPW, village attorney, trustees and parking enforcement on getting this over the finish line.”
Last board meeting, the village finalized the payment structure and monthly permits for both residents and non-residents. In January, sensor-accessible cards will be issued.
Two hundred twenty-five cards will be 14-hour “day” permits, available to Mineola residents for $105 a month. Nonresidents can purchase a similar permit for $250 a month, and 75 will be created.
For 24-hour permits, 50 cards will be created for Mineola residents at $300 a month. Nonresidents will be billed $500 a month, and 20 cards will be issued.
Hourly parking will be billed for a maximum of 24 hours. Rates begin at $2 for up to two hours and jump to $6 for two to three hours accumulated.
The maximum daily rate for the garage is $30, which covers 15 hours of parking.
Trustee George Durham said the new facility is good for those that are making small runs and can’t find parking on Mineola Boulevard.
“It’s two dollars for the first two hours, it’s a great spot for quick trips,” Durham said during his report.
The parking garage’s opening ends over a year of delays. Originally completed in 2019, COVID-19 and minor structural issues have constantly pushed back the transferring of ownership from the MTA to the village.
Revenue generated from the garage can now be incorporated in future village budgets, which Strauss previously said he was hesitant to include because of the uncertainty regarding the project’s schedule.
The MTA said that the parking garage has been under village ownership since the beginning of December and that it was staying involved until the project’s completion. Unlike other projects, any maintenance or issues from this point on will be handled by the village, not the state.
Part of the LIRR Expansion Project, the garage has been constructed at the Mineola station west of Mineola Boulevard between Harrison Avenue and First Street and replaces a surface-level parking area. The five-level garage represents a net increase of 446 parking spaces serving the Mineola station.
The parking garage is one of two being built in conjunction with the Long Island Rail Road project, which is adding a third track on the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville.
