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UA Parking and Transportation planning for expansion

Arizona Summer Wildcat

5-year plan includes 3 more garages, additional off-campus

The UA Parking and Transportation is looking into long-term solutions to alleviate parking problems

Director Patrick Kass said the department is in the process of developing a five-year plan that includes three more garages and more off-campus lots. The first part of the plan is the opening of the Tyndall Avenue and beginning construction on a new Sixth Street Garage.

"We are currently looking at two additional garages to help alleviate parking stresses," he said.

The garages will be a combination of both permits and pay parking.

Likely sites for the garages will be north of East Speedway Boulevard on university-owned property.

One of the temporary solutions is using the Cat Tran system to shuttle students to and from off campus lots.

Currently there are about 9,700 parking spaces available for student and faculty use with about 3,000 people on waiting lists for spaces.

The parking situation could become more of a problem in the next three years if the anticipated 8,000 student growth occurs over the next three years.

A ban on freshmen having cars - which several universities have - is not likely at the UA because of the way the permit system is set up, Kass said.

Returning permit holders are granted first selection of parking permits. After returning holders a list is started requesting new lot areas. Freshmen usually do not get a chance to sign up for a permit until summer orientation, well after the list usually exceeds the number of available spaces.

Kass said cost would be one of the issues reviewed in the five-year plan being developed. He added that the cost is a concern, but the UA cost per space is still average in the nation.

The university also has a special rate for SunTran passes. There are about 5,000 students and faculty who use the university rate buss pass to commute to the UA.

Associate Students President Ben Graff said he is very concerned with the parking situation.

"Parking and Transportation needs to become a more student-oriented organization," Graff said. "Parking and Transportation has become more of a private business rather than a service to the students. Zone 1 can be a nightmare for students trying to find a place to park."

Graff said he would consider supporting reducing the number of Zone 1 permits so that permit holders would be guaranteed to have parking available, though he is concerned with rising cost and lack of parking and is strongly opposed to any more price increases.

"I fear the day when our lower income students cannot afford to park on campus," Graff said.