USU parking changes
By: Manda Perkins
Big Blue Parking Terrace will be a paid lot 24 hours a day starting this school year.
Kylee Larsen photo
Utah State University students, faculty and staff might be reconsidering how they will travel to and from campus this year. A resolution passed by the Parking and Transportation Advisory Committee last spring calls for several changes to the university’s transportation system, all of which are now in effect.
The Big Blue Terrace is now a 24-hour lot, operating Monday through Friday. Those parking in the terrace without a permit will now be charged from 7:30 a.m. on Monday until 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
The resolution also calls for several changes benefiting students with a blue parking permit. The blue premium lot, located just east of Big Blue Terrace, now closes at 11 p.m Monday through Thursday. Students with a blue pass can still park in the blue premium lot for their allotted two free hours, but now can park free of charge after 5 p.m. Those parked without a permit after 11 p.m. will receive an IOU to pay for parking after the closing time to ensure more spaces are available for those with a blue pass. The green lot north of the C. Anthon Ernstrom Nutrition and Food Science building is now also available to blue permit holders.
Two other existing lots have been reconstructed to accommodate the public after hours. The red lot, west of the Merrill-Crazier Library, and the black lot, east of the Legacy Fields, are now free to the public after 5 p.m. Some spaces are marked as only available to faculty and staff, so students are advised to pay attention to the signage in both lots.
“We’re just trying to allow students to park where we have some accessibility and where we have some lots that may not be fully utilized,” said James Nye, director of Parking and Transportation Services.
Casey Saxton, student advocate on the Executive Council, said parking on campus is a major concern for students at the university.
“I’m not particularly fond of the new 24-hour Big Blue Terrace policy, but I think that parking administration has compensated somewhat with new student parking spaces in the red lot near the library, which will be available in the evenings,” said Saxton in an email to the Statesman. “The change affects many students who spend their evenings in the student center for a variety of things, including me, and it will take some getting used to.”
As an incentive for morning fitness enthusiasts, Parking and Transportation Services now validates parking for those visiting the George Nelson Fieldhouse and the Health and Physical Education Recreation building from 6 to 8 a.m.
“I think there’s a lot of really good changes that do make it convenient and more accessible,” Nye said. “We have the students in mind. Even though the terrace is going 24 hours, we tried to look at other options to help students find transportation on campus.”
The Aggie Shuttle’s evening service has been extended until 9 p.m. Nye said this is to provide students with an additional transportation option when attending evening events on campus now that Big Blue Terrace operates for 24-hours.
Kylee Larsen Photo
James Morales, vice president of Student Services, said the construction of new buildings on campus has contributed to the loss of parking and this resolution was a way to create more space for campus commuters.
“The university and all of its members, collectively, we look at the various problems and issues and points of friction as a community,” Morales said. “We get together and try to find solutions with the best possible outcomes for everybody involved. These often result in some give and take; that’s what being part of a healthy community is all about…This is certainly one of those cases. Parking is a recurring issue on this campus because it’s growing and the parking lots in the core of the campus tend to be prime real estate for new buildings… In this case, we got together with Parking and Transportation, student government leaders, myself and other university officials and we said, ‘Okay, here’s some issues we need to deal with.’”
Another change, not part of the resolution, may affect drivers with vehicles registered outside of Utah or California. The university’s compliance with the state mandate to require emission inspections. Before receiving a campus parking permit, students, faculty and staff who drive vehicles six years or older that are registered in counties or states where emissions testing is not mandated must now provide proof of an emissions test.
For Utahns, this means owners of vehicles registered in Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties do not need proof of a test. Residents from the other 24 Utah counties and states where testing is not mandated must have their vehicles tested at the Cache County standard before obtaining a permit. Parking meters, pay-by-the-hour parking structures and stalls paid for by departments are not subject to the new requirement.
Morales said with all change there is opportunity for confusion. The office has worked to inform students visiting campus for the various summer programs of this change.
“Once they understand the reason for it, that we’re trying to improve the quality of the air they breathe, people are reasonable,” Morales said.
Those wishing to purchase a parking permit online will now be prompted to provide an emission certificate number. To purchase in person at the Parking and Transportation office, an emission certificate must be present before receiving a permit. Drivers can pay $15 at the office and receive a coupon to have the test done at the USU Motor Pool, or can opt to go off campus.
Twitter: @perkins_manda