parking for providence acela

November 10, 2010 6:16 PM

Where should I park to catch the Acela from Providence, RI?

I have googled to find info about the station parking itself, but all accounts so far say the lot is full by 7 am (I will be arriving mid afternoon or so, and staying at least overnight).

I have also found info about Providence Place (a mall nearby?) -- I don't really care about having to pay $25 or so (it's on the company), as long as I know that it's convenient (I have a hand injury and can't walk blocks and blocks) and safe.

Anyone have firsthand experience with the PVD station?

posted by Tandem Affinity to Travel & Transportation around Providence, RI (7 answers total)

Best answer: There's a parking garage right there at the lot. You might be able to find a spot by midafternoon with people coming back.

The mall is extremely close - about maybe a quarter mile max. Easy walk, very safe - right in front of the capitol.

Another option is to go up to the Attleboro station and park there and take the regular train down into Providence. Parking there is about $4 dollars. (I don't remember exactly - I haven't taken the train in a while).
posted by quodlibet at 6:26 PM on November 10, 2010

Best answer: I work in Providence and parking is tight. You could choose the mall, or the parking lot at the Citizens Bank building on Park Row West: http://bit.ly/aovqSq
posted by LouMac at 6:30 PM on November 10, 2010

If you don't mind driving down to Kingston, there's free parking right at the station.
posted by blaneyphoto at 6:31 PM on November 10, 2010

This is the Amtrak station in Providence right? I've been there a lot but usually just to drop people off. If work is paying, I'd call City Parking & Valet Services [phone] and see what they have to offer. I've never used them, I usually park on Canal St or North Main but that's probably further than you reasonably want to walk if the weather is shitty. I also don't have first hand experience with the garages so I'd suggest giving City Parking a call first. The Mall is pretty close and convenient, the parking garage is a little situated in a snarl of highways but it's easy if a little uphill to walk to the train station. Just make sure you can park there overnight and what the hours are. Worst case you could park a little further out and cab in but I don't think that's necessary.
posted by jessamyn at 6:34 PM on November 10, 2010

Best answer: Providence Place mall is incredibly close. I'd say not more than a 5 minute walk. Since you're not paying for it, I'd say go for their garage - just remember where you park!
posted by raztaj at 6:59 PM on November 10, 2010

Best answer: Down the hill (near the river) there's also a few paid lots, but they may be limited to subscription parkers. The Mall parking is probably your best bet: you only have to walk a short block outside (if it's raining), and then go pay at one of the mechanical kiosks and head right to your car.

Finding your way out of the Mall parking garage is a pain in the ass, but it stays open pretty late to acommodate the movie theater and Dave & Buster's.

Which reminds me: the GTech building (between the Mall and the big reflecting pool thing) has a garage where GTech & Fidelity visitors and Ruth's Chris customers presumably park. If this isn't the same as the train staiton's ramp, then consider that one.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:49 AM on November 11, 2010

Response by poster: the mall parking garage was superconvenient to the highway, if expensive for the ~30hours I left the car there. ($36). Not sure how that compares to the train station garage, but as recommended, who cares if I'm not paying.

I should have taken a better look at the map though -- when I walked out of the mall toward where I thought the station should be, it was not obvious which building it was. It didn't help that it was pouring!

Thx for all yr answers!
posted by Tandem Affinity at 5:46 PM on December 14, 2010