Let's say you just live too far from the train stations to walk there.  Or perhaps it's not such a bad walk in the fall and the spring but brutal in January and August. There are options.  As of November 2012 there are several lots with no waiting lists for permits, however some have waits as long as 7 years.  But here's the work around: Although most train stations have two hour limits on street parking for the streets within a two block radius of the station, you can always park three blocks away and walk the rest .  As long as you move your car by 2 am you're good.

C permits(Central Business District): daytime parking permit valid in 10 lots in the downtown area, $300 /6 months - currently no waiting list. Download C Permit application form.

W permits (Walnut & Watchung lots): daytime parking permit. Fee $360/ 6 months for Transit and $300 for non-transit/Merchants - wait list for permits approx. 2 years for Walnut and 8 months for Watchung. Download W Permit application form.

U permits (Upper Montclair lots): daytime parking permit. Fee $360 / 6 months for Transit and $300 for Non-transit/Merchants- wait list for permits approx. 7 years. Download U Permit application form.

MH permits (Montclair Heights lot): daytime parking permit. Fee $300 / 6 months - no waiting list. Download MH Permit application form.

Mountain Ave. Permits (U permit valid at Mountain Ave. only):  Fee $300 / 6 months - no waiting list.

B Permits: Valid 7 days a week,24 hrs/day in the Bay Street Deck only. Fee $360 / 6 months - approx. wait time 5 years. Download B Permit application form.

G Permits: (Grove St. lot) - daytime parking permit. Fee $300 / 6 months - no waiting list. Download G Permit application form.