More surface lots to close to make room for construction

The cost of parking will not go up on campus next year, although more Zone 1 spaces will be gobbled up due to construction, Parking and Transportation Services officials said.

For the first time in three years, parking costs at all university lots will remain the same, with the exception of the disabled spaces in Zone 1, garages and flex lots.

Parking and Transportation Customer Service Manager Andie Graessle said that in the face of budget cuts, a possible tuition hike and the possible lack of raises for employees, officials are trying to keep parking costs affordable.

"We're trying to be nice to people for a change," Graessle said. "It's not easy to do that when you're running the parking on campus."

Students with this year's Zone 1 permits paid $185, $25 more than last year, to cover the debt incurred by the university in building the new parking garages and pay for future garage construction and other expenses, said Patrick Kass, director of PTS.

Next year, commuters to campus will continue to suffer the loss of surface parking spaces caused by those garage construction projects. Kass said that eventually there will be more garage spaces than surface parking.

This year, there were about 5,100 Zone 1 spaces, and the proposed amount for next year is just over 4,800. There are about 10,000 total parking spaces on campus.

Graessle said the Zone 1 lot at North Cherry Avenue and East University Drive will be closed next year due to construction.

Lot-specific lots 5065 and 5151, both near Coronado Residence Hall, 822 E. Fifth St., will also be closing for construction. Permit holders will be offered either Zone 1 permits or spaces in the Tyndall Avenue Garage, 880 E. Tyndall Ave.

The Zone 1 lots 5079, 5137 and 5150, which are located north of East Sixth Street, closed in February to make room for construction of a 1,600 space garage.

Mike Delahanty, operation manager for PTS, said students with parking permits will not be displaced.

He said parking spaces for permit holders are available in several lots, including the 7103 south of East Sixth Street and the 8109 south of Arizona Stadium.

Those spaces were purposely not sold at the beginning of the year so that students would be able to use them once construction began.

Permits for next year are guaranteed to current holders who register by April 1 in the first floor lobby of the University Services building, 888 N. Euclid Ave., or by phone at 626-PARK.

People who do not have permits may apply beginning April 15.

James Kelley contributed to this report.