Due to construction, the University of Oregon Department of Parking and Transportation is facing a reduction of both parking space and revenue.
The department is self-sustaining but is not allowed by state law to use tuition or tax money to run its programs. In 2012, UO made $1,700,000 in parking revenue that includes fees collected from permits and parking meter fines. Department Director Gwen Bolden reports that many meter parking spaces around the Erb Memorial Union and the Student Recreation Center have permanently closed, impacting revenue generation. The funds mainly go toward covering personnel and maintenance costs.
Yet, Bolden does not see a demand for more campus parking. In fact, she receives more requests to take out parking spaces than to put more in.
The university currently offers about 4,000 parking spots and sells about 200-300 parking permits. The number reflects the fact that the majority of campus residents don’t typically bring cars to college for the first year.
“Most universities say that they want a campus that is dedicated to pedestrian friendly, where they say that they don’t really mean it,” Bolden said. “This is the first campus I’ve been on where we do have more bicycle riders … (and people) using alternative transportation methods than we do in single-occupancy vehicles.”
There is, however, one particular area on campus that has people driving in circles: the “academic core” that extends from Franklin Boulevard to 18th Avenue and from Agate Street to Hilyard Street. The challenge, Bolden said, is the lack of space available that would make adding additional spots possible.
“The downside is having to drive around until you can hopefully find a spot, and then once you do, you’re only allowed to be there for two hours,” said university senior Rachel Juth, who lives about two miles east of campus and drives to campus four days a week.
The real parking crunch, however, is felt on the perimeter of campus where every year, students drive their cars to Eugene with no place to park.
“There is only a certain amount of parking spaces on the street and you have to manage those spaces like a scarce resource,” said Jeff Petry, the parking service manager for the City of Eugene.
The rise of many new housing developments around campus and downtown Eugene has created a challenge for the city.
According to Petry, many times 80 people want to receive a permit for the same location, often apartment complexes, but there are only two permits available. The amount of residential permits an address can receive is equal to the amount of cars that can park in front of its location. Permits cost $40 and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and are often sold out within the first week of fall term. Not having a permit prevents drivers from parking on the street beyond time limits and can lead to a parking ticket.
A Zone H permit for high-density areas is offered by the city as a last resort for drivers who were unable to attain their first-choice permit. But because of its higher cost, $180 per quarter, fewer students go for that option.
“The biggest challenge is … making sure (students) do their homework if they choose to bring their car to campus,” Petry said.