Spring Break
Parking pass fees being driven up
Amber Benson
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: News
Students who drive can expect a 10 percent price increase for parking passes during the fall semester due to inflation, increased operating costs for the parking services department and ongoing construction projects.
Annual parking passes for commuter students increased from $100 to $110, while annual parking passes for on-campus residents increased from $200 to $220, according to the Visitor and Parking Services Web site.
Commuters who only need parking passes for the fall semester must pay $60, which is an increase of $5 compared to last semester.
Director of Visitor and Parking Services Robert Brecklin said the price increases are partly a result of inflation. He said prices for parking passes have not increased in the past nine years.
Brecklin said the price changes also are an effort to compensate for the increasing costs for expenses the parking services department is responsible for providing, such as picking up liter.
"We spent $90,000 last year just to have the liter picked up," Brecklin said. "Every time the grounds crew picks up liter, they charge us back."
Brecklin said if everyone picked up their own liter on campus, the parking services department could reduce prices by $18 for each parking permit.
The parking services department had to subsidize part of the University Center project by spending about $354,000 toward the expansion of Lot 12, Brecklin said. Lot 22, which is located near the baseball field, also required money to be expanded and improved.
Many students said they are upset about the increased prices for parking passes.
"They make enough money off the parking tickets they already give, not to mention all the quarters they get from meters," senior Tim Cotter said. "And there's clearly not enough parking for students."
"I think it's ridiculous," sophomore Donta Brown said. "The $200 was already a lot. Now they're charging $220, and we can't even park in different lots during the day."
Brown said student organizations could take the responsibility for picking up liter to save the parking services department money because students also would be eager to earn volunteer hours.
Annual parking passes for Lot 24, which is located near the stadium, decreased in price from $150 to $110, Brecklin said.
Annual parking passes for commuter students increased from $100 to $110, while annual parking passes for on-campus residents increased from $200 to $220, according to the Visitor and Parking Services Web site.
Commuters who only need parking passes for the fall semester must pay $60, which is an increase of $5 compared to last semester.
Director of Visitor and Parking Services Robert Brecklin said the price increases are partly a result of inflation. He said prices for parking passes have not increased in the past nine years.
Brecklin said the price changes also are an effort to compensate for the increasing costs for expenses the parking services department is responsible for providing, such as picking up liter.
"We spent $90,000 last year just to have the liter picked up," Brecklin said. "Every time the grounds crew picks up liter, they charge us back."
Brecklin said if everyone picked up their own liter on campus, the parking services department could reduce prices by $18 for each parking permit.
The parking services department had to subsidize part of the University Center project by spending about $354,000 toward the expansion of Lot 12, Brecklin said. Lot 22, which is located near the baseball field, also required money to be expanded and improved.
Many students said they are upset about the increased prices for parking passes.
"They make enough money off the parking tickets they already give, not to mention all the quarters they get from meters," senior Tim Cotter said. "And there's clearly not enough parking for students."
"I think it's ridiculous," sophomore Donta Brown said. "The $200 was already a lot. Now they're charging $220, and we can't even park in different lots during the day."
Brown said student organizations could take the responsibility for picking up liter to save the parking services department money because students also would be eager to earn volunteer hours.
Annual parking passes for Lot 24, which is located near the stadium, decreased in price from $150 to $110, Brecklin said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jim
posted 9/12/08 @ 10:38 AM CST
Oh no! $20! People will have to cut back on driving in order to save gas. What is this country coming too?! Maybe next time you complain you should tell your friend to not throw that cigarette butt on the ground. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 9/13/08 @ 10:08 PM CST
$90,000 for the liter to be picked up? Man, I'd like to get some of that stuff. I just picked up a 2-liter of Mountain Dew today, and it was only 99 cents. (Continued…)
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