🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <57qkdv$cpc@usenet.rpi.edu>, wrfuse@mab.ecse.rpi.edu (Wm. Randolph U Franklin) says:
>
>I would like to visit Manhattan on a weekday by driving to a
>subway or commuter rail station outside Manhattan after the
>morning rush hour is over, parking, then taking the subway or
>train in. 

Don't even think about driving to a subway station. Your car won't be
there when you return.

> Could someone suggest possible stations that still
>would have parking available at 9am?  I don't mind paying for the
>parking.  I'll be coming down from Albany.
>
>Parking in Croton is possible, but I'm worried that there would be
>no parking available, especially since I've read how the town
>feels about becoming a giant commuter parking lot.

Parking in Croton is $3.50/day. Getting to Croton is a major
pain in the butt.

If you insist on "beating" the Amtrak fare, drive across the
Tappan Zee to Tarrytown or Irvington and take Metro North from
there (there are express trains from Tarrytown). Park in a pay
lot, or (in Irvington), park on the city streets and hike to
the station.

>The alternative is to park in Manhattan itself.  Are there
>preferred parking garages that are easy to get to and near the
>subway?

I work in Manhattan every week. When I drive, I park in a very
secure underground lot on 55th St, 3 doors west of 8th ave. It's
around $14/day.

>Amtrak is excellent in every respect (speed, timing, parking in
>Albany, connection to the subway in NYC), but one (price).  I
>don't like paying $160 for two peak time RT tickets.

Your math is wrong. Peak time (Fri/weekends) is $50 each way, so
you're talking $200. Non-peak is $30 each way with Triple-A discount
(If you have an AAA card, you get a 10% discount on Amtrak tickets),
for a grand total of $120.