New London - In effort to keep Shore Line East trains rolling into Union Station, the city is offering free parking to regular riders.

In a split vote, the City Council agreed Monday to a three-month pilot program that would provide free parking in the Water Street Parking Garage for daily riders of Shore Line East.

Councilors Martin Olsen and Michael Buscetto III voted against the measure. Olsen said the city can't afford to let people park for free in the garage, which is about to undergo a $639,000 face lift. Buscetto questioned why the city would give a deal to train riders and not to others who use the parking garage routinely, such as travelers on the ferries and buses, or people who work for downtown businesses.

But the majority of the council agreed that free parking can be an incentive to bring in more commuter rail riders. Old Saybrook, the next stop on Shore Line East, provides free parking.

In February, the City Council approved a 50 percent parking discount for commuters who showed a monthly Shore Line East pass. They were able to purchase a monthly parking pass for $26.

In April seven users took advantage of the program; four in May, 10 in June, one in July and six in August, according to Joseph Celli, who manages the garage for the city.

City Center District, a group of downtown merchants, proposed the new incentive program to encourage and increase ridership on Shore Line East. The group promised to invest up to $2,000 to promote the program.

At the end of three months, the council will evaluate the program.

k.edgecomb@theday.com