Ridgewood Offering Lottery For Lyft Rides Once Hudson Lot Closes

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — A lottery will be offered later this month to give 55 people a chance to win Lyft rides while the Hudson Street parking deck is built.

The winners will be offered the chance to purchase a $1,300 premium resident commuter parking permits, which are needed to park in the Hudson Street lot.

Having a permit guarantees the owner a space in the Hudson Street lot and two rides a day from Lyft to and from the train or bus station, village Manager Heather Mailander said during a council meeting Wednesday.

Residents would have until midnight Dec. 12 to enter the lottery on the village website.

Hudson Street Parking Lot will be closed down once they start building long-awaited parking garage next year. The contract with Lyft is funded through the $71,500 in parking permits sold for the Hudson Street lot and with funds from the $90,000 valet parking contract.

The plan also serves as a pilot program to determine if more contracts with ride services like Lyft and the village are possible.

Councilman Mike Sedon spoke positively about the program.

"I think it's a good idea," Sedon said. "It takes 55 cars out of the equation. It's a good way to see if this ride-sharing could work without being funded 100 percent by taxpayers."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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