A Morris County Transportation Division study says more parking lots and spaces are needed to meet the increased needs as more residents turn to public transportation.

According to NJ Transit, usage of rail and buses has grown steadily over the past five years.

The study urges cities and towns throughout the state to take a series of steps in order to ease parking concerns for public transportation riders.

Relief suggestions include the development of off-site parking lots and use of shuttle service to deliver people to and from bus depots and rail stations. Other recommendations include the development of systems to allow commuters to check parking availability and working out arrangements to use nearby lots at major sites like malls and churches.

The reports stresses that if riders do not find parking relief, they could abandon public transportation altogether. That possibility could put the state's roadways at risk of becoming more clogged, according to the report.