Permit parking at Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station

Hempstead Town officials will launch a pilot resident-only permit parking program for 227 out of 1,800 spaces at the Long Island Rail Road’s Bellmore station, beginning on Oct. 22.

Community leaders have been asking town officials for more than two years to implement permit parking at the Merrick and Bellmore train stations. Some residents complained that commuters from Suffolk County and the Town of Oyster Bay have made it difficult for local residents to find spots in the stations’ parking lots on weekday mornings.

The residents have said that out-of-towners park at the two stations because fares to commute into New York City are cheaper than from their own stations.

“We believe the launching of this parking program at the Bellmore train station will provide greater parking access to our residents who utilize the train,” Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray said in a statement.

Town officials said they also are working with LIRR officials to unveil a pilot commuter parking permit program at the Merrick train station in the near future.

A parking sticker, issued by the town clerk’s office, will cost $3 annually and will allow commuters who live in town to park in spaces reserved for permit parking only. Parking without a permit in a municipal lot that requires a permit can result in a total fine of $105.

Residents can obtain the permits on Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19 between 6 and 9 a.m. from the Mobile Town Hall at the Bellmore station.

Residents can also get permits at Hempstead Town Hall after Oct. 3. The permit period will expire on March 31. The next period will run from April 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.

Above: Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station