The University Parking Task Force has recommended a $12 parking fee increase — from $39 to $100 during the next five years — and expect Chancellor Sean O’Keefe to approve it next week.
The task force recommended that the current $39 fee increase annually by $12 and reach a peak of $100 in 2010. During the next five years, the money would fund additional parking lots throughout campus as well as a parking garage.
Chancellor O’Keefe initiated the formation of a task force in response to a “very comprehensive” survey of more than 8,700 students, staff and faculty about campus parking, said Student Government President Michelle Gieg. Walker Parking Consultants conducted the survey.
“People will pay more, but they will see direct results,” said Eric Monday, assistant vice chancellor with the Office of Finance and Administrative Services.
The new $51 fee will completely fund the new projects for the 2005-2006 school year, Monday said.
Jason Soileau, assistant director of the Office of Facility Development, said the process will begin in October 2005 and continue through the 2008-2009 school year.
Gary Graham, director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, said the task force will spend the summer advertising and taking bids from different construction companies, and he hopes construction will begin in August.
In Fall 2005, workers will start construction of a $130,000 new parking lot by the Natatorium that will provide an additional 54 spaces, said Emmett David, an architect and director of the Office of Facility Development.
Officials also plan to build a new parking lot by Parker Coliseum the following February to provide 123 new spaces, Gieg said.
The parking lot on W. Stadium Dive will be redesigned for $617,200 in April to provide 364 spaces, David said.
The parking lots will still be zoned to accommodate staff, faculty, residents and commuters, Soileau said.
A parking garage will be built in the 2007-2008 school year near the Laville dorms on Highland Road.
There will be an east entrance to the garage in an effort to improve traffic between the parking garage and the Union, Gieg said.
The task force has a plan to gradually add more parking areas in the next four school years, Gieg said. The $24 million project will culminate in two new CEBA lots in 2009.
All of these projects are the results of the Walker Parking Consultants survey in addition to public forums and an additional online survey of 8,000 students.
This task force is made up of representatives from various areas on campus, including Academic Affairs, Finance and Administrative Services, Facility Development, Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation and members of the student body, faculty and staff.