Although University commuters will find more parking spaces in winter term, students and faculty will ultimately have to foot the bill for the construction of the parking lots.
The last two years have seen a complete overhaul in the placement of parking spaces on campus, beginning with the 2007-08 construction projects at the College of Education and School of Music and Dance. The most recent disruptions, including the Matthew Knight Arena, Ford Alumni Center and East Campus Residence Hall, have collectively eliminated more than 400 spaces in the Bean Hall Lot and elsewhere.
Working diligently over the summer, the University was able to provide an additional 311 spaces on Moss, Villard and Walnut Streets east of campus for fall term drivers. Five more facilities currently under construction, including the Arena’s subterranean parking structure (375 spaces) and the Northside Parking Lot along the Willamette Riverfront (151 spaces), will bring almost 700 more online by the beginning of 2011.
However, all of this optimistic construction must be paid for. According to a University press release penned by Department of Public Safety Director Doug Tripp and Vice President for Finance and Administration Frances Dyke, the campus parking program must increase permit prices in order to mediate its extensive construction tab.
“The University’s parking program is an auxiliary enterprise,” the memo stated. “(It) exists to furnish goods or services and charges fees to cover its costs.”
Since the parking program has found itself in the shoes of a nonprofit business, the cost of parking for University employees has increased $100 from last year to $400 this year. In addition to paying the base rate, reserve permit-holders will have to shell out another $1,150 ($250 more than last year). Student parking permits have not budged from $300.
“Students experienced a substantial rate increase last year,” Tripp said. “Based on the extent of last year’s increase, it was determined that student rates would remain static this fiscal year.”
Economics professor William Harbaugh – a devout foot commuter – is critical of the University for asking campus commuters, specifically University employees, to reckon with a bill for parking structures they may rarely use.
“I walk, and these increases just make houses like mine that are close to the UO more valuable,” Harbaugh said. “But it looks to me like DPS is asking students and staff who have to drive to subsidize expensive underground parking for the Jock Box and Matt Court; Why?”
From 2007 through last year, the rate of parking fines increased by 49 percent (from $317,944 total to $474,014 total), and parking fees for students and faculty increased 35 percent and 41 percent respectively. So, even if students are paying the same price for permits as last year, the amount of little green envelopes they find on their hoods will likely increase consistently with the previous years’ trends. University senior Blake Hamilton uses metered parking instead of buying a permit because, he explains, possessing a permit does not necessarily guarantee drivers a space everyday. In regards to the disproportionate increase in faculty parking costs, Hamilton thinks the decision was likely based on University employees’ capacity to pay.
“I think professors are more able to pay the extra $100,” Hamilton said. “It is not that much more for members of the faculty, so I am completely okay with it.”
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