The FY2010 planned parking permit increases

Parking and transportation services are facing a budget dilemma. Parking fees have remained unchanged for some time; parking fine income has diminished due to better enforcement and fewer violators, fuel costs for buses, a higher demand for services/ expanded route requests, lot maintenance, striping and snow removal have all left the TPC with a challenge of what to do, how to do it, and when. An idea, with some support, calls for the increasing the current $50 fee for faculty/staff Durham permits, over the course of the next 5 years, starting with FY’10 , to be raised the current (FY’08) average of the UNH comparator list of schools, resulting an increase from $50 currently to a rate of $235 in 2015, with adjustments to be determined for each of the fiscal years, again, starting in 2010, to bring it to the $235 figure (See attached PDF of comparator schools). Other factors may be in the mix to include tiered cost for parking, based on salaries of folks/ rates for core campus parking versus perimeter lot parking, there are still numerous pieces to be factored.

FROM: Robert Strobel (Project Manager, Technology Transfer Center) Wednesday 3/12/2008 9:15 PM I have read with interest the 2003 transportation survey results after being spurred by the recent Campus Journal article regarding parking permits and discussion with PAT Council. I have some comments based on the article and the 2003 study (of which I participated). I am sure I will not be the first, but not all of my comments are rancorous. I have been a Durham campus commuter for 10 years. I agree with most of the information presented. However, I have some concerns that I would like addressed at some point, and some considerations for TPC in general. 1) I carpool from Northwood 20 miles to the west with one other person 3 days per week. If transit was available, I would gladly take it even partway, such as from a Park-n-Ride from Lee Circle or Northwood at Rts 43 and 4, or a stop on the way for the bus from Concord. Currently, I have NO alternatives available that I know of to get to campus aside from car, so I am forced to buy a parking permit (bicycling is an option but not during winter). I COULD park at an alternate location such as Dover and take Wildcat in, but that increases my commuting costs significantly, even moreso than a $235 permit, let alone the increased time commitment and inconvenience.Of course, I could move, but that not a consideration since my partner commutes the opposite direction. The 2003 survey indicates that FacStaff live equally in all directions but EAST, however, most of the transportation routes are east and south. You are not serving those constituents in those areas, but you emphasize the need to increase FacStaff participation. 2) You refer to a vanpool alternatives starting 2003. I find no mention of them anywhere. A Western route along Rt 4 would be an obvious choice. Where is that information available? Or has it, as I suspect, been discontinued? 3) I currently arrive by 8AM and park at core campus (Parsons or B Lot) since we both work on that side of campus and have early schedules. We do NOT bring 2 permits since there is no incentive to do so. If I had dedicated spots in B Lot for carpools, I would be more likely to bring both permits (but at 8AM spots are generally open regardless). Reducing the number of single permit spots in FacStaff B Lot would be an incentve to carpool, especially for later arrivals. In that same light, both of us purchase full cost permits. I know that does NOT guarantee a parking spot. However, for 3 days per week, I pay for a privelege I am not using at, in 2010, $0.94 per day. What I would like is to be rewarded by a reduced permit price for carpooling. The only incentive currently is altruistic: reduced carbon emissions, commuting costs, and a closer spot which I do not use. Give me a pocketbook reason to carpool and I will be more likely to look at it. I can guarantee that if you frame the argument this way, you will gather much more attention. Right now, most users do not see the cost of getting to work, they see only how much to pay to park. Carpooling works when you find someone who has a similar schedule, and it is convenient to set up. Currently, the only option is for like-minded individuals go to the Rideshare website and hope someone else comes along. Encouraging people to do so, such as mandating that they fill out the rideshare application when they renew a permit might help. Even better, give them a discount when they do carpool (this ties in with the punch-card permit in #7). 4) While I can understand the maintenance costs of parking lots (I work with town Public Works employees so pavement maintenance is familiar), there is one glaring cost item that I question in Table 1: Enforcement. $71.50 per SPOT is almost 10 times any other expense, and a full 25% of the cost of maintaining a space in that study. To me, that is an obvious target for savings. I certainly understand the need for enforcement. What I question is the method(s). Perhaps some effort can be spent in looking for ways to reduce this expense. Consider moving to an RFID (radio frequency ID tag) in the permit hangtags, and programming the scanner to sound when the chip is located. No tone = no tag, then write a ticket. Something has to be better than the current method of visual scanning for tags that may or may not be visible. I can think of other methods but this missive is long enough with getting technical. How does the 2003 $296 annual cost compare to the “estimated at upwards of $800 per space” 2008 figure from the newsletter? I know asphalt has tripled in price recently but that alone does not account for the difference. 5) The TPC looked at 14 similar universities. Which ones? No mention of them in the documentation that I can find. That might help us understand the comparisons. 6) Can you expect the AAUP not to fight the proposed sliding permit cost scale?! They earn more than FacStaff and would pay more to park. Of course, if FacStaff unionize, they would fight FOR the sliding scale. When I commented to a coworker that at $235 per year to park, I would pay $0.94 daily just to park, she responded “union”. Since few alternatives exist for some of us, the cost of parking does become a valid bargaining chip for union contracts. That is beyond the scope of the TPC but I wanted to raise that spector since it may jeopardize any kind of cost recovery. Regarding the cost of permits, I have 3 points. 7) Thank you for considering a punch card system. Provided that the cost of that system is proportional to a full permit, that permit could be used by many people who can telecommute at least part of the week. Of course, I would want it to scale up to say 2-3 days per week year round so about 150 times. I would also want that punch card to be valid for multiple plates so I can get one with my carpooler for when we both drive. We would buy a full permit and a punchcard, then split the costs. 8) I feel very abused to be funding a bus system that does not serve me (fine, I am selfish but $235 is a lot of cash for me). Almost all overhead charged by campus I can justify except Wildcat. Sure, I will 'buy' my parking space and maintenance for same, but why should I buy a bus that I do not ride because it does not even come close to my quite reasonable needs: pickup someplace I can get to within 10 miles, and get me to the office sometime during rush hour then back? 9) Motorcycle permits are currently available free to FacStaff permit holders. Please continue this option as I ride when I can. Since few commuters use this form of transport, and multiple bikes can fit in a single parking space, the costs are spread over many more people than a car. I would even consider offering a discounted car and bike permit (say 3 days per week by car). No, it does not green campus since I get the same mpg on my bike as my car (42), but I save maintenance costs of the lot. I would like to attend the next TPC meeting (assuming it is open to at least campus personnel), but there is no schedule listed. TPC could be viewed as another of the "blackboxes" referred to by union endorsers. At least you have some documentation on your recommendations which is helpful. Thanks for listening. Robert

Noted by PAT Council member "Briana Sullivan" In answer to Robert Strobel's question #5 (Which universities were in the TPC report) They are the following (Fac/Staff rate (student rate) university): $633 ($474) University of California: Santa Cruz $443 ($262) North Carolina State University $434 ($264) University of Colorado: Boulder $425 ($235) University of Massachusetts: Amherst $325 ($190) University of Connecticut $306 ($306) Washington State University $300 ($171) Rutgers: New Brunswick $248 ($139) University of Vermont $198 ($144) Oregon State University $150 ($97) University of Delaware $50 ($50) University of New Hampshire $35 ($50) University of Maine $0 ($125) University of Rhode Island $0 ($60) University of South Carolina

FROM: Jason Brodeur (OS council chair) This morning I happened to get connected to this email thread and thought I would mention a few things, understanding that you may already be aware. First, there is a Benchmark Report from December of 2005 at the TPC website that would be worth reading as a follow-up to the 2003 findings. It is available on their website http://www.unh.edu/transportation/tpc/index.htm . Second, Rick MacDonald of the PAT Council serves on the TPC and would be the contact for upcoming meetings as well as minutes (which are public) from previous meetings. I do know that the next meeting is scheduled for April 10th. PAT and OS Councils each have two seats on this committee, so all business is very transparent. Lastly, thank you for the ongoing commitment toward solutions that are in the best interest of us all. Kind regards, Jason Brodeur OS Council Chair

Posted on behalf of a PAT member in district 20: As you would guess, and you probably feel the same way, I have serious concerns about an increase since I purchase the UNH parking pass. I would be in favor of a tiered type of payment because as a UNH Manchester staff member I don’t go to Durham nearly as much as a Durham employee so feel I would be paying an unfair amount for the amount of time I’m actually there. This probably isn’t a possibility but I’d be in favor of a plan that allowed UNH Manchester employees to purchase their permits at a reduced rate (and not the UNH Manchester pass that allows you to park in A lot but the regular UNH faculty/staff pass) since we’re not there nearly as often. Although I’m certainly in favor of Wildcat Bus service to and from Manchester, I’m unsure of how well that would work unless it was constantly running and I question the value in that also. The “punch card” idea sounds like a possible alternative we might favor.

Comment from a PAT staff in district 20: I explained to one of my colleagues that the committee reviewed the parking fee from several other schools and they used that information to come up with an average for an annual parking fee. Her comment in response was are we also looking at these other college’s to see what they pay their employees to make sure that is also equitable. It’s possible that the salaries are higher at these other institutions where employees are paying $400 + to park annually. Also, many of the other institutions in the sample are in urban centers.

What would B-Lot be in this plan, Or A-Lot? It was my impression that "core lots" are anything that currently does not have shuttle service. so West Edge and A-Lot may not be considered "core"? It's possible that even those are considered "core" and that you need to be "off campus" before you are no longer considered "core". Then West Edge would be a full charge, but parking at the Newington Mall or a Park-and-Ride on Route 4 would not be considered "core". We should be able to get this clarified and update this thread.

There must be a better alternative than a sliding scale parking permit to offset costs. One alternative to the bus transportation on core campus is to encourage the "walking" campus - no parking at all on campus. This means the university can turn the paved lots to green lots. Wouldn't that be green! Buses are not green!

Previously Robert Anderson wrote:

What would B-Lot be in this plan, Or A-Lot?
> <br>It was my impression that "core lots" are anything that currently does not have shuttle service. so West Edge and A-Lot may not be considered "core"? It's possible that even those are considered "core" and that you need to be "off campus" before you are no longer considered "core". Then West Edge would be a full charge, but parking at the Newington Mall or a Park-and-Ride on Route 4 would not be considered "core".
> <br>We should be able to get this clarified and update this thread.

In the 2003 TPC report (A href=http://www.unh.edu/transportation/tpc/docs/2003FinalReport.pdf> TPC 2003 page 158) Core lots appear to be defined as any parking lot within a 5-8 minute walk from center campus (Vinnie's Coffee trailer near Demeritt). According to the 2003 TPC report, A-lot is Zone #2 so is NOT considered a Core lot, and B-lot is not assigned a zone in that report. I noted that it is within the same distance from campus center as other adjacent Core lots such as C-Lot and E-Lot. However, B-Lot is covered in the AAUP negotiations with faculty so I would highly doubt that it would be listed as a core lot without a major revolt by AAUP amongst others.

I want to thank everyone for their feedback. In answer to the question about core lots. The term "core lots" is not used any more. The new verbiage is about zones. The thinking has changed since the 2003 TPC report. There are now (3) three zones. Zone 1 is every lot east of North Rd. (North Rd. is the new official name for the road the the transportation building and T-school are on), zone 2 is everything west of North Rd. and zone three includes all the park and rides served by transportation. The major impact to this way of thinking is that A-lot is now in zone 1 (what used to be called core campus). Plans are being made regardless of the status of lots in regards to collective bargaining. That is not to say that collective bargaining will not have an impact on the plan, just it is not a driving force behind planning. So B-lot is considered zone 1. Rick MacDonald

Call it a zone, call it core, call it whatever you want. Obviously it's one of the most heated discussions on campus - where we all get to park. How crazy is that?? Is it really that absurd to expect our employer to provide parking for employees? Honestly, how about this concept: I am a committed employee. A committed employer would provide a place for me to park (cost aside) within a 'reasonable proximity' - we are not all althetes who ride bikes to work, can walk a mile to our office, or even have public transportation available. As far as the 'walking campus' goes, should that materialize one day, I still feel a committed employer would provide a way for employees to get from provided parking to where they work. I don't see that as a student shuttle; I envision that as a dedicated employee shuttle directly to the buildings in which employees work. ..I just discovered this board,,, not sure how it works, but here is my name: Marilyn Qua / OSR / Service Building

Buses aren’t an option for many of us. We would gladly take buses, but they aren’t provided everywhere. Why should we pay three times – once for our parking, once for gas/car/insurance/repair expenses, and then SUBSIDIZE those for whom buses are an option? Charge for the bus, instead of charging extra for "the fleet" those who can't even use it! Is there any consideration for part-time permits? Why can outsiders use our lots for free, and push us out of the spots for which we pay? If you raise our fees, then at least charge for use of alumni center spots, and other times lots, such as NH Hall are closed to those of us who pay to make them available. Poulin Auto Country charges us for our own spots when we attend events. Are they renting the lots, and giving money back to the parking fund? That should be self-sustaining, and pay more for their “occasional use,” than those of us who pay for a year, and use it some days. It seems like those of us who don’t have the luxury of living within walking distance, have no carpool options, and aren’t on bus routes are subsidizing everyone else with bus service. The buses should be their own entity. Don’t force the ones who can’t use them (due to lack of routes) to foot the bill for those who can!

To reinforce Robert's comments, I did join the ride share program, and matched up with a TA carpooler for 2 days a week. Then we parked in B-lot on the 5th week leaving both permits in the car, and promptly got a $50 ticket. (still in dispute) Driving more than 58 miles from Nashua to Manchester, to Durham, why would I want to park in one of the few C-lot carpool spaces or in West Edge and extend my 70 minute commute with an additional 20 minute walk or bus ride? I wouldn't mind an increased permit fee if it comes along with at least some measure of increased parking capacity or commuting convenience. Couldn't the Office of Sustainability, Parking (dis?)Services, and Civil Engineering team up to get some extra capacity out of the existing lots? It would seem that some grant monies and senior projects could redesign the existing lots with angled, head-in parking and other reasonable changes to increase density within the current areas at minimal effort and expense. It wouldn't be quite as annoying if I were not aware that the situation hasn't much improved in over 25 years when my sister and friends attended. Raising the fees just to cover rising expenses won't do. We all have rising expenses. There has to be some measurable effort to increase capacity and/or convenience to go along with it.

Why are parking permits used to pay for the bus system? Why doesn't the system pay for itself? What about user fees? This seems backwards. Charge the people who drive to pay for the bus? The parking fee should cover the cost of part of a parking space. Fees for Whit events and football game tailgating should be used to help pay for the parking lots. Have the money collected be used by the place it's collected.