The UW Central Fee Committee (CFC) passed a proposal to increase parking permit prices on Tuesday, Feb. 21.
Having been approved by the CFC, the proposal will be presented to the Board of Trustees, who ultimately decide whether or not the proposal will take effect.
It is proposed that starting July 1, 2023, Brown Permits will cost $294 annually, $30 more than they do now; Orange Permits will cost $210 annually, $48 more than now; Red Permits will cost $105 annually, $24 more than now; Purple Permits will cost $42 annually, $9 more than now; and Motorcycle Permits will cost $84 annually, $18 more than now.
Gold Permits, which will allow for parking in the Ivinson Parking Garage, are the only permit with a proposed price decrease. According to the proposal, they will cost $354 annually, $36 less than what a Gold Permit would’ve cost had the parking garage opened this year.
The proposal creates a new Gold+ Permit, available only for staff and faculty, which will allow for parking in the parking garage and spots of any lesser color. Gold+ Permits will cost $468 annually.
As the Transportation Services uses license plate scanners to identify potential parking violations, it is also proposed a new $26 fine be created called “License plate not visible.”
ASUW Vice President Hunter Swilling, a voting member of the CFC, provided the only dissenting vote.
“The fact that prices for permits increased last year as well and the fact that charging people who have, for example, an orange permit more to pay for a parking garage that they won’t be able to park in made it very difficult for me to support,” Swilling said.
ASUW as a whole has taken “no official stance on the matter beyond the thoughts expressed by representatives on that committee,” according to Swilling.
Paul Kunkel, Director of Transportation Services, presented the proposal to the CFC.
Kunkel outlined four main justifications for the price increase: increased salaries, debts, garage maintenance, and inflation.
According to Kunkel, the price increase is necessary to provide salaries for the department’s over 120 employees. Kunkel explained that as Transportation Services are considered an auxiliary unit, “[their] revenue is self-generated, and [they] don’t receive a state appropriation when salary increases are appropriated.”
Kunkle also described the responsibility of transportation services to meet payment requirements in accordance with a roughly $30 million in bonds used to fund the now delayed construction of the parking Garage.
“Additional revenue must be raised to make the required payments,” said Kunkle.
Even after the opening of the parking garage, there is the matter of upkeep. Kunkle’s third justification for the fee increases lies in garage maintenance. It falls on Transportation Services to manage annual maintenance of any future structures built.
Lastly, Kunkle cites inflation as a primary factor for the increase.
“Costs have increased across the board due to inflation, including fuel, parts, and outside repairs. Additional revenue is needed to continue supporting the UW transit system,” Kunkle said.
Beyond the four main points of justification, Kunkle also explained “our proposed rates are still well within ranges of our peer institutions and in some cases, much lower.”
Kunkle acknowledges the potential backlash he and his department may receive from students, staff, faculty, and all those who are accustomed to searching for a spot on the UW campus. However, given the above reasoning, he stands by his department’s decision.
“Fee increases are never an easy decision. Obviously, parking is a volatile issue on campus and increases won’t be popular,” Kunkle said.
“Based on the addition of the parking garage and the other market factors, I feel the increases are justified.”
