B parking lot poses problems
A long wait for a parking stall in the premium student parking lot, or B Lot, northeast of the Taggart Student Center is not unusual, but options to improve the structure of the lot are very limited.
Lisa Leishman, director of Utah State University Parking and Transportation Services, said there are no changes on the horizon, but options are being looked at to improve the heavily used parking lot.
“We’ve actually looked at or considered changing it to a pay [parking lot] as soon as you come in,” Leishman said. “Right now students get two hours free. We’ve thought about possibly charging them 50 cents an hour immediately.”
It is not uncommon for students to have to wait 15 to 20 minutes in the lot, said Sgt. Shane Sessions, enforcement supervisor for Parking and Transportation Services.
The traffic problem in the lot this year is “pretty much the same” as past years, he said.
“There’s always a group who go in hoping that within the next five to 10 minutes somebody leaves so they can get an available stall,” Sessions said.
The parking terrace west of the B lot has a meter limiting the number of vehicles that can enter. If the terrace is full, cars are not allowed to enter until another car leaves.
Leishman said the Parking and Transportation Services has discussed the possibility of adding a meter to the B lot, but there is an issue of traffic flow.
“Because [the B Lot] is so highly used, it would be a major traffic issue along 700 North,” Leishman said. “Cars would be backed up along the roadway, not allowing traffic to flow.”
Leishman said another way the parking congestion in the lot could be alleviated is by raising the price of a B permit.
Last year, Walker Parking Construction conducted a study on parking at Utah State University and suggested the price of a B permit be raised from $35 to $115. The figure, Leishman said, was too high.
“Walker Parking is used to dealing with universities who have a different mentality, whose constituents have a different mentality,” Leishman said. “I thought $115 was too exorbitant, I was thinking $70 was more reasonable. No question, B permits will be raised.”
Leishman said the parking committee will review the plan to raise the price of B permits in the next few weeks.
From there it will be passed on to the administration for approval.
The Walker Parking report said part of the problem with the current pricing structure of parking permits is how closely priced an economy permit, which is $10, is to a B
permit.
“One of the things that Walker consultants came up with that we agree with is that if there is a larger disparity between the economy and the B permit, then there is going to be more people choosing to go one direction or another,” Sessions said. “Right now we have a large percentage of students who say that for $25 more I can buy a B
permit.”
Many students are making the decision to purchase a B permit over the economy permit, Leishman said. About 3,300 students have purchased the B permit this school year, compared with about 2,400 students who have purchased the economy pass.
Ultimately, Leishman said, she would like to see more students purchasing the economy permits than B permits.
“You can save money, park at the stadium and ride the shuttle for free,” she said. “Every student is paying $8 per semester to use the shuttle anyway.”
There has been talk in the department about putting a limit on the number of B permits sold each year, Leishman said. Their preferred option, however, is to put the price of the B permit at a level where it will act as a deterrent to some students to purchase the permit.
“The value that they get at the cost of the permit isn’t worth it,” Leishman said.
Leishman said she understands the parking situation can be frustrating, but Parking and Transportation Services welcomes and appreciates student input on parking issues.
Half of the voting members on the parking committee are students, she said. Anyone who would like to set up a meeting with the parking department, or make suggestions may call 797-3414.
“Student voices are extremely important to the parking department,” Leishman said. “Our doors are open to suggestions.”
-str@cc.usu.edu