University continues to debate parking alternatives

Complaints about limited parking are nothing new, said Director of Public Safety Gary Taylor.

Frustrated students walk into his office every day, but their dilemma isn't an easy one to solve.

The debate at last Wednesday's Associated Students of the University of Montana meeting helped explain the problem — some students spend more than 20 minutes driving around campus looking for a free space. Experiences like this prompted one student to add his name to the waiting list for a reserved space, which he purchased a year later for $555. Another student could not find a spot on campus last week, so he parked his one-of-a-kind car on the street and an ASUM bus crashed into it.

According to the Office of Public Safety, the University sells just over one-and-a-half times as many parking permits as it has spots available. Last semester, 4,752 students, faculty and staff shared 2,929 parking spaces.

After an hour of debate, senators voted 7 to 14, failing a resolution requesting that the ASUM Office of Transportation make advocacy for expanding parking on campus a "significant and continuous initiative."

Less than a half-hour after the ASUM meeting ended, students created a Facebook group entitled "My University of Montana Parking Story." Within two hours, the group had more than 170 members. Several of those members gathered more than 120 signatures this week to show the senate that students would like to see parking on campus increased if possible.

"There are a couple of senators that said there's no evidence of a parking problem," said Sean Schilke, who started the Facebook group and petition. "I wanted to show that there was."

ASUM Business Manager Luke Sims voted against the resolution, but plans to introduce a different one about parking to the senate at next Wednesday's meeting. He is currently working on the final language.

Nancy Wilson, director of the ASUM Office of Transportation, said her staff would work with students on the issue if the senate directs it to do so.

But the decision to add parking isn't hers alone. Taylor said the Transportation Office, Public Safety, University administrators and others on campus would need to collaborate on a plan.

Rozlyn Haley, Public Safety's event parking and transportation coordinator, said the University sells more parking permits than spaces because not all students with permits will be on campus at once. She said the lots by her office, located behind the football stadium, are rarely full. Tuesday, at 11 a.m., seven spaces sat open in Lot U.

"I think that sometimes people don't realize they can park over here because we've got the motor pool, chain link fence, and it all looks fairly industrial," Haley said.

Some students will always need to drive to campus for work or because they have to transport their kids, she added. But for others, the University offers cheaper and sustainable alternatives.

Public Safety pays for students to ride the city's Mountain Line buses for free. ASUM Transportation also supports a fleet of nine buses that take students to three Park-N-Rides with 647 parking spots, as well as the College of Technology.

"Even if you build a parking space, it can only turn over at the most three times a day, where if you add another bus it can be filled up all day long," Wilson said. "You get more for your money."

The transportation office also rents bikes to students and is looking to add a car-sharing program.

Wilson said these initiatives have been successful, and the parking situation has improved. Before the transportation office formed in 1999, drivers had to park on the grass during special events. Her office has since worked to educate students about alternative forms of transportation.

Senators at last week's meeting acknowledged the benefits of these programs, but some would like to see more.

ASUM Vice President Jeff Edmunds said students should work with the University to look at a variety of options including converting reserved spots to decal, using some of the tailgating area as parking or partnering with the city to open up lots for students and the community.

But adding new lots comes with a price tag. According to the transportation office, each spot in a parking lot would cost around $1,200. The price goes up to about $25,000 a spot when constructing a parking garage.

"There's always cars to fill up parking spots, and there's always going to be more cars than there are parking spots," Wilson said.

amy.sisk@umontana.edu

BY THE NUMBERS:

2,929

decal parking spots on campus open to students, faculty and staff.

2,159

students who purchased year-long parking permits last semester.

1,586

students who purchased a half-year parking permit last semester.

1,007

faculty and staff members who purchased yearlong parking permits last semester.

$1,200

approximate cost of constructing a parking space on flat pavement.

Source: The Office of Public Safety, ASUM Office of Transportation