Kudos to Stonington's reasonable idea for the Mystic parking problem with a parking lot, "Stonington to seek input on creation of downtown Mystic parking lot," (Feb. 8). Unlike Groton, whose solutions have been to take parking spaces away (streetscape and building additions on parking lots), lines on Pearl Street that do not leave safe passage for even one car and hiring a meter-maid to hand out tickets as a precursor to their “master” plan of parking meters, Stonington is trying to balance need with respect for the soul of Mystic. We do not want another Newport.

The problem is not parking but too many cars. The only rational solution is for both towns to work together to reduce the number of cars by providing a desirable offsite parking for visitors to our lovely town. Anything else is just masking the long-term problem. For 20 years I have been advocating using property behind the old Ramada Inn as a transportation center with a free shuttle with regular round trips (Route 27, Route 1, Allyn Street and I95) like most tourist destinations have. We have the added advantage of a river shuttle to the Seaport and downtown at a nominal cost. In past conversations with the Seaport, they embraced the idea. It is time to think long term. Now is the time. Federal Build Back Better money can be found to start the program.

Richard Dixon

Old Mystic