New permit rates effective Aug. 25
The University of New Mexico Department of Parking and Transportation Services (PATS) announced that parking permits for the 2008-2009 academic year will go on sale on Monday, July 14. Staff and faculty not enrolled in the automatic payroll deduction program must renew their permits annually and can purchase their new permits from the PATS Web site beginning at 5 a.m. Students may also begin purchasing permits at this time. New permit rates are effective Aug. 25.
Staff and faculty who are enrolled in the automatic payroll deduction permit program do not need to initiate a new purchase as the program automatically issues a new permit for a new academic year. Permits will be sent to the address listed with the UNM Human Resources Department.
To cancel enrollment in the payroll deduction program, staff or faculty must contact PATS before Aug. 1 to terminate the service. To initiate enrollment staff or faculty can visit the PATS Web site for more information or visit the PATS office on the NW corner of Central & University.
In April, PATS announced the new permit rates for the 2008-09 academic year as well as new rates for the meters and Cornell Parking Structure, which took effect July 1.
Rate Changes:
Meters from $1.60/hour to $1.75/hour
Cornell Parking Structure from $1.60/hour to $1.75/hour
South, G and Q Lots from $112/year to $124/year, an increase of $1 per month
Dorm Residents from $220/year to $242/year, an increase of $2.20 per month
T Lot Parking from $151/year to $183/year, an increase of $2.66 per month
Surface Lot* Parking from $331/year to $364/year, an increase of $2.75 per month
*Surface Lots are parking lots located on the core campus (A; M; L etc.). The prices listed are for the median salary range. Other permit types and salary ranges have different increases. Please visit Parking and Transportation Services for more information.
"Of course we regret having to introduce any raise in charges," PATS Director Clovis Acosta said. "We have succeeded in buffering much of the real-term costs internally, but because we are fully self-funded, inevitably there is an amount that is passed on to the customer."
But what does this price increase mean for the average UNM student, staff or faculty member? The additional money raised from the permit increase will help to replace older buses currently used in shuttle runs around the campus, some of which are nearly 14 years old. The new replacements not only give much improved fuel economy -reducing the cost of shuttle runs- but, thanks to improved technology, will also produce much less greenhouse gases.
It is often easy to overlook the broader role of the shuttle service. The advantage of an efficient, dedicated on-campus fleet provides:
More efficient access to the University and campus learning centers
Decongestion of central campus
Better pedestrian safety and flow
Improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions
Reduction of intrusive traffic noise
"No-one wants to see parking prices rise," said Parking and Transportation Services said 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 petroleum-based products."
In addition to providing shuttle service from external lots to locations around the University campus, PATS is also responsible for parking lot maintenance. Parking lots are beginning to deteriorate and need considerable attention. Asphalt is petroleum-based and has recently undergone a 30 percent price increase. These costs are a part of the PATS operation.
Acosta added, "We are constantly working to improve parking on campus. We are designing new, purpose-built parking structures and locating them centrally on campus. The permit revenue helps us meet the debt obligation on these projects. I believe that the new prices reflect a fair and balanced increase and that Parking and Transportation remains highly competitive and continues to deliver an excellent range of services to our customers."
For more information about PATS services and parking rates, visit Parking & Transportation Services Web site at http://www.unm.edu/parking.
Media Contact: Benson Hendrix, (505) 277-1816; e-mail: bhendrix@unm.edu
Posted by bhendrix at July 10, 2008 04:28 PM