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ASUA study compares parking rates in the Pac-10

While student complaints mount concerning decreasing campus parking spaces and high permit prices, an ASUA study comparing Pac-10 schools may lead to improvements in the campus parking situation.

In a study compiled by Melissa Schiffman, Associated Students of the University of Arizona parking and transportation director, various issues were compared, including alternative transportation methods, parking violations and permit prices.

Schiffman said the information in the study is informative, but a person must take into account each school's situation.

"You can't compare the figures because each university provides different services," she said. "It's like comparing apples and oranges."

Because each school has a different amount of spaces and transportation services, parking permits vary in price.

Schiffman said this causes a great misconception when students compare the UA and other neighboring schools.

"Basically, a lot of students compare our prices to those of ASU (Arizona State University)," she said. "They wonder why their permits cost only $129 whereas ours cost from $300 to $350 a year."

Other factors unique to the current academic year have worked against students and faculty who want cheaper permits.

"Construction has also caused some major changes as well," Schiffman said. "Another main difference is that we are landlocked and they (ASU) are not."

In order to make room for other parking structures, Schiffman said the perimeter parking will be sacrificed first, followed by small campus lots.

"The parking lots will be the first to go," she said. "They (UA administration) are not going to tear a building down if they don't have to."

Schiffman said another five-story parking structure may replace the Zone One parking lot directly east of the Student Recreation Center.

"That lot is not used as much as others on campus because it is on the perimeter of campus," she said.

Schiffman said there are also number of expensive services that the UA Parking and Transportation provides to students in order to make their lives easier.

"The difference is we have a shuttle service that runs throughout campus and along the perimeter, which ASU doesn't," she said. "They (UA parking and transportation) spend approximately $1.35 million on alternative transportation such as MAP (Motor Assist Program), Disabled Cart Service, and Emergency Ride Home."

MAP is a service that provides complimentary assistance to UA faculty and students who need car service.

Schiffman said permit prices are directly related to the funding of these services.

"They (UA Parking and Transportation) are auxiliary, so they get no money from the UA or the state," she said. "They generate all their funding for themselves."

Patrick Kass, director of UA parking and transportation services, said the study is informative, but does not present any new figures that would affect future UA policy.

"I'm not really sure what reciprocated this report," he said. "It gives you a quick synopsis about what schools offer, but as far as benchmarking, we do this for schools throughout the country."

Kass said the UA participates in a yearly study that compares parking policies nationwide.

"It's actually more in-depth, and provides measures for schools to be rated," he said . "We fall pretty much on the mean as far as rates are concerned,"

Kass also said the new construction projects, such as the Tyndall Parking Garage that will be built next semester, will drive permit prices up for next fall.

"We will be looking at our permit prices and evaluating what changes are needed," he said. "As our costs increase, I can see that price increases will occur."

Kass said the many services provided by UA parking and transportation also causes an increase in prices, but help students indirectly.

"We subsidize approximately 60 percent of SunTran bus fare for students and employees," he said. "This is just one of the many services that the university provides to students."

Both Kass and Schiffman said there is a definite need for understanding student parking wishes.

Schiffman said the purpose of the study was to develop student-based commentary about UA parking services.

"I want to do more student outreach to see what they really want," she said. They have a lot of good questions, but I don't have enough answers right now."

Schiffman added that she wanted to get a feel for student opinions before suggesting anything to UA Parking and Transportation.

"This semester was used as an attempt to understand what we are up against," she said. "I don't have any suggestions right now, but we are ready to put our findings to work."

Schiffman also said she understands that some students may not be happy with the information provided by the UA parking and transportation services, but the importance is found in learning about student needs.

"The answers may not be what the students want to hear," she said. "I want to hear what students want to know."