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The University of New Mexico

NEWS RELEASE



Media Contact: Benson Hendrix (505) 277-1816
bhendrix@unm.edu

July 16, 2007

UNM Department of Parking and Transportation Announces 2007-2008 Permit Rates

The University of New Mexico Department of Parking and Transportation Services recently announced 2007-2008 permit rates that will incorporate a price increase for services.

“No one wants to see parking prices rise,” said Parking and Transportation Services Director Clovis Acosta. “I understand the concerns of members of the UNM community. This increase is necessary to keep up with the rising price of fuel, as well as purchasing other materials to maintain our parking lots and provide the shuttle bus service to campus.”

The rate increases for the 2007-2008 school year are as follows:

Rate Changes: 2006-2007 2007-2008

Meters $1.35/hour $1.60/hour

Cornell Structure $1.35/hour $1.60/hour

South, G, and Q Lots $99/year $112/year

($1.08/month increase)

T Lot $147/year $166 year

($1.58/month increase)

Surface Lots $294/year $331/year

($3.08/month increase)

(These lots are located on the core campus (A, B, C, etc.). The prices listed are for the median salary range. Other permit types and salary ranges have different increases. Please check the parking Web site at http://pats.unm.edu/permits.cfm for more information.)

(The median pricing referenced is for the lots that most of UNM faculty and staff are using.)

But what does this price increase provide for the average UNM student, staff or faculty member?

The additional money raised from the permit increase will be used to replace some of the older buses currently used in shuttle runs around campus. These older buses are 13 or 14-years old and the cost to maintain these buses exceeds the salvage value. The buses replacing them have better fuel economy, which reduces the amount of fuel needed for shuttle runs between parking lots and main campus. The newer buses will also produce fewer greenhouse gases due to improved technology.

Parking and Transportation Services will add five more bus drivers to the staff. These drivers will help to ensure that all of the current shuttle routes are running at higher efficiency while not overburdening the existing transportation staff.

An additional portion of the money will go towards replacing outdated parking meter equipment with more efficient meters that will have fewer malfunctions. These meters have better tracking tools that provide the Parking and Transportation Services Department with information about usage and efficiency of the parking meters. The department will then use that information to better serve their customers at UNM.

“Some people may think we are raising prices for no reason,” Acosta continued. “But what they might not know is that UNM Parking and Transportation Services is a self sustaining department. We don’t receive any money from student fees or tuition. The money we receive from parking permits goes towards maintaining the parking lots and the bus fleet for the shuttle system.”

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The University of New Mexico is the state's largest university, serving more than 32,000 students. UNM is home to the state's only schools of law, medicine, pharmacy and architecture and operates New Mexico's only academic health center. UNM is noted for comprehensive undergraduate programs and research that benefits the state and the nation.

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