By
Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Parking citations lowered, stolen permit fines raised
A new parking garage that opened last week will provide 850 more spaces for UA students, although most of today's late-comers will have to shut off their ignition someplace else because no permits are left.
However, about 100 Tyndall Avenue Parking Garage visitor spaces are anticipated to be available, said Patrick Kass, the University of Arizona parking and transportation director.
The north half of the garage, on North Tyndall Avenue and East Fourth Street, opened Wednesday. The rest of the $12.6 million structure, about 850 spaces, is expected to open in December, Kass said.
Kass suggested that students wait until next week to put their names on the waiting list for the $400 permits because his office will be less busy.
Original plans were to name the garage after Marlis Davis, the former parking and transportation director, who died Dec. 19 of cancer.
But Davis' daughter and transportation officials want to name a building that will house UA parking and transportation offices in her honor instead, Kass said. The building, which will be constructed on East Sixth Street and North Santa Rita, is scheduled to be completed in August 2002.
The Sixth Street Parking Garage with 1,700 spaces will be constructed along with the building. Construction on the garage and the building will probably start in May or June, Kass said.
Stephanie King, Davis' daughter, said her mother would have been "thrilled" with the building named after her.
"That was my mother's whole life - the parking and transportation department," King said. "I just feel honored there will be a lasting memorial to my mother."
Kass said the decision is not final.
Associated Students President Ben Graff said he supports the increased accessibility and spaces the Tyndall Avenue Parking Garage adds to the campus, but added he was concerned that the recent parking garage permit increase from $350 to $400 may prevent lower-income students from being able to park in the garages.
He also said he was worried that UA Parking and Transportation is leaning toward becoming more of a business than a university department.
April Ellsworth, a psychology freshman, said the Tyndall Avenue Garage should help with parking crunches.
"It's such a huge campus - for visitors and students - you're going to need more garages than there already is," Ellsworth said. "Parking is pretty tight."
Kass suggested students arrive to school early today in order to find a parking space. He also advised that officials will enforce citations so students should be sure to park in proper spaces.
Some parking changes are planned for this year, Kass said.
Parking citations were lowered - most of the fines cost $20 or $30, which is down from $25 or $35, he said.
A late fee of $15 will be assessed when a citation is not paid two weeks after it was issued, he said. Last year's policy was that $15 was assessed after two weeks and another $10 after a total of 30 days.
"We're reducing fines, but we're expecting if a citation is issued people pay them in a timely manner," Kass said.
But Parking and Transportation officials bumped up the citation for using a stolen permit to $200 and the vehicle will be impounded, Kass said. The previous citation was $100.
Another Cat Tran bus was added to the green route which runs around East Ninth Street and North Fremont Avenue, he said. Now a bus will travel that route every 15 minutes instead of every 30 minutes.
