Parking Update

Changes in the Works

February 24, 2009

As the university ramps up for three new construction projects, including a new parking structure, Parking and Transportation managers and staff have been planning on how to best accommodate those wishing to park on campus.

Among the programs to be instituted: stack parking in student parking lots A and G, and possibly in faculty/staff lots F and I from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; parking along some of the campus roadways at the beginning of the fall semester; and paving and opening up the vacant lot at the corner of Gymnasium and West Campus drives.

Officials also are looking at possibly offering valet parking on the ground level of the Nutwood Parking Structure — for an additional fee — and remote parking with a shuttle system.

“We know that losing several hundred parking spaces due to construction will create an impact to the campus community, so we’re considering many options to ease the stress,” said Joe Ferrer, director of parking and transportation. “We’re also encouraging campus members to consider alternate means, such as public transportation and if able, walking or biking.”

Walk to Work, Walk to Wellness

“That’s why we’re co-sponsors of ‘Walk to Work, Walk to Wellness,’ a nine-week walking-biking program designed to encourage wellness and physical activity,” Ferrer explained. The program, co-sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, is designed for teams that register and record their weekly times. Participants “virtually travel through and explore” all 23 of the California State University campuses during the program.

“While the emphasis of the program is to encourage employees to walk or bike for exercise and well-being, it also promotes walking and biking as an alternative commute mode,” said Ferrer. “For those who live too far from campus to walk or bike, they can consider walking on campus between meetings or during their lunch break, or use stairs instead of building elevators.”

Orientation for the program will be held at 9 a.m. Feb. 25 in the Titan Theater of the Titan Student Union. For more information and to register, go to www.parking.fullerton.edu/walktowork.

Commuter Choice Program

Campus members who carpool, walk, bicycle or use rail systems to come to campus may be eligible for the university’s Commuter Choice Program.

All campus members have a bus pass in their wallet, said Ferrer. Those wishing to ride buses to campus can take part in the Orange County Transportation Authority University Pass Program, in which participants can ride OCTA buses for free on all local routes using their TitanCard once its been encoded.

“I encourage all students, faculty and staff to have their TitanCard encoded. Even if you don’t use OCTA to commute to campus on a regular basis, it’s an option that is always available to you,” he noted.

Increased Parking Fees

As a self-supporting operation on campus, Parking and Transportation must use parking fees to cover the cost of operations and construction of additional parking facilities. A multiyear plan to increase fees in support of new parking structures were approved by the Student Fee Advisory Committee in early 2007. This spring, daily, student and certain employee parking fees were increased.

The daily parking fee, effective last month, increased from $5 to $8.

The spring parking permit increased to $162 for students, nonrepresentated, nonstate and Unit 11 employees. A summer session parking permit is now $96 and permits paid through monthly payroll deduction rose to $36 per month beginning with this month’s paychecks.

Parking fees for faculty and staff members in Units 1-10 and 12, were not affected.

“The multiyear parking fee increase will fund the construction of the 1,5000 space parking structure slated on the east side of the campus,” said Ferrer. “The construction time line of the project is very aggressive and we are hoping the project will be completed and open for parking by the fall 2010 semester.”

For more information, visit the parking website at www.parking.fullerton.edu.