Valet parking comes to Union Station

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- Anyone who has ever taken the train out of Union Station in New Haven knows how tough it can be to find parking, but now there's a new option available for passengers who dread the thought of making the walk to the parking lot to retrieve their vehicle.

Like your favorite five star restaurant, valet parking has come to Union Station in New Haven.

"I think it's a good idea," said Ellen Mulligan of Hamden.

Mulligan is among the train riders giving the idea an early thumbs up. "To come here and have somebody else park it, make sure it's secure and not have to worry about it, it's incredible and it's cheap," she said.

The cost of the service is $20 for up to 24 hours.

Commuters can even text the valet service from the train, so their car will be warmed up and ready to go when they arrive at the station.

The parking situation at Union Station, which frankly was never all that great, got even worse when Gateway Community College moved its main campus to downtown New Haven.

It might just be an idea whose time has really come given the volume of cars we're seeing these days. With parking spots in the city at a premium, a valet parking service might be the perfect answer for travelers in a hurry.