The already disputed parking situation on campus is set for major changes over the next year which will include permit cost fluctuation.
According to ASUW President Hunter Swilling, as part of the upcoming changes to parking on campus, students can expect to see the union parking lot removed, despite opposition from ASUW.
“As you all know the union parking lot is going away,” Swilling said at the ASUW meeting on Feb. 8. “Bye-bye. Voted on. Done. We objected strongly but got overruled.”
ASUW members were not the only ones who had objections to the decision to remove the parking lot.
“I don’t like the idea of the union parking lot being torn down.” Quaye Kaslow, a junior double majoring in environment & natural resources and rangeland ecology and watershed management, said.
“It’s a great place to park to go workout and to get to the library.”
Junior Jordan Milby, a secondary education major, shared a similar sentiment.
“This is an awful idea. Why would we get rid of more parking, when parking is already a problem here,” Milby said. “I hear students complain about this on a daily basis.”
“The facilities contracting committee is approving the contract in March, which means they will likely begin construction in April or May,” Swilling said in regard to when students can expect the removal of the union lot to begin.
The union lot will be used as a staging area, meaning only part of the parking will be removed in April or May.
It will be “completely gone in summer sometime” Swilling said.
In addition to the removal of the union lot, construction has already begun on the parking garage located off of Grand Ave.
“I like the idea of a parking garage being built,” Kaslow said. “It will create more space to park, and it’s close to campus, which is a bonus.”
However, the additional parking may not come in time to avoid even more restricted parking for a period of time.
“It is notable that the Ivinson parking Garage will not be completed until November,” Swilling said. “There will be a tight parking situation in the fall.”
Some students are not sure the garage will benefit students soon enough.
“I have heard a new parking garage has been being built forever now,” Milby said. “Until it actually happens there needs to be more change.”
Changes to campus parking will lead to fluctuations in parking permits costs.
“They’re also changing the parking permit structure,” Swilling said “They’re creating a tiered system.”
The system will increase prices the closer you park to the core of campus, think “Prexy’s Pasture” Swilling said.
It has already been stated that areas such as the new parking garage will be more expensive than currently available areas.
“Some permits may be close to $400,” Swilling said.
The exact cost of all future permits is currently unknown.
