2013-2014 Online Permit Registration Form
2013-2014 Parking Permit Improvements - FAQ
What are the benefits of this year’s system?
-No longer have to search the parking lots to find a parking space.
-Faculty & Staff receive first selection of lots
-All vehicle and permit registration is online
-You will have the option to have your permit delivered to your office.
-We are able to better maximize our current parking inventory and be better stewards
with our current infrastructure.
Why the changes?
Because of the growth of campus, our excess parking supply is shrinking. University
Transportation is looking to accomplish two major short-term goals: put off building
any new parking facility and put off raising parking rates. By better utilizing our
current parking supply and making permits lot specific, we can get more use out of
the parking we already have.
Our current system doesn’t maximize the number of cars we could park on campus and
thus we are not being as efficient with our resources as we could be. The reason
being is that when we strictly mark a whole lot as a faculty/staff lot, or residential
lot, or commuter lot, it limits the overall greatest yield we could have in parking
customers because it is limiting who can park in that lot. Previously we would either
need to switch a lot’s user group designation or we would need to build more parking
in order to accommodate a group that was running out of parking. With our new parking
system we will be able to place SPSU faculty, staff and students in any of the lots
that have availability, regardless of who they are.
How will the new system work?
Under the new system you will be able to register for almost any lot when picking
your top four preferences during permit registration. Faculty and staff will have
first selection in lot choices. In future registration years you will be able to keep
the permitted lot that you currently have if you want to keep it. The goal is that
you can always park in your permitted lot every day you come to campus, but in the
event you need overflow parking there are four “open lots” on campus. Many lots on
campus will also become open from the hours of 7PM to 7AM, and weekends with a valid
parking permit. Please refer to the campus parking map on the University Transportation
webpage to determine which lots carry after hour privileges.
What if my lot is full when I get to campus?
While we do not foresee this being a common occurrence, we have designated several
lots as 24/7 open lots so that in the event your lot is full you can always park in
one of these designated lots. Please see the 2013-2014 campus map here.
What about handicap parking?
While we will be asking that you select a "base" lot where your permit will be assigned
to, those that have registered with University Transportation for handicap parking
will be able to still park in any handicap parking stall on campus with your parking
permit.
Can I park near the Recreation and Wellness Center?
We have also designated P8 as an open lot in which anyone with a permit can temporarily
park while using the facility.
How else are we reducing our parking demand?
We are increasing the transportation alternatives for our on-campus residential population
and commuters. We are adding Zipcar (car-sharing), improving our PolyTrolley (grocery
and Marietta Square shuttle) and hopefully soon implementing some programs to allow
transit passes to be purchased through payroll deduction (added tax savings). These
incentives and programs will encourage more of our campus to choose to leave their
vehicles at home, and in return reduce our growing parking demand and increase our
sustainability efforts.
How might SPSU make it safer for those of us who may stay late?
Safety is of utmost importance to University Transportation and SPSU. You will be
able to register for the parking lot that you prefer, and faculty and staff are assigned
their parking preferences first. If you find that there's a certain lot that you'd
like to be in for your evening hours, please register for that lot as your top choice.
Another facet to how parking will work for the fall is that starting at 7PM, many
of the lots become open lots. Please see the University Transportation map to determine
which are open at 7PM. Anyone with a SPSU permit can park in any of the open lots
from 7PM to 7AM. If you are just working on campus in the evenings, we will likely
be able to accommodate your top parking lot choices. And as always, if you ever feel
unsafe the SPSU police are on campus 24/7 and can be reached at 678-915-5555.
What if I have a rental car or if I forgot my permit in another car?
Anyone driving a rental vehicle may move the hang tag from the registered vehicle
to the rental vehicle. In addition, a person who has been issued a parking permit
may obtain a temporary replacement permit from the University Transportation Office.
You simply need to come to our office and let us know the license plate of the car
you are using the temporary permit on.
What if I miss the registration window?
We are given faculty and staff a large window to register and we ask that everyone
please complete their online form by July 8th. Those that miss the registration window should contact University Transportation
as soon as possible.
What if an employee starts working at SPSU during the middle of the semester?
University Transportation will help your new employee find parking on SPSU’s campus.
Please have them visit or contact our office to obtain a parking permit once hired.
What other universities have similar parking arrangements?
Many universities use similar parking arrangements, including: University of Georgia,
Georgia State, Emory University, Georgia Tech, University of Rochester, University
Massachusetts – Amherst, St. Cloud State.
How do we determine how many permits are distributed for each lot?
University Transportation uses industry utilization averages as well as SPSU parking
utilization averages that were compiled by Kimley-Horn and Associates to help determine
how many permits can be allocated per lot. These metrics are used as a preliminary
guide to determine the number of permits allocated, but frequent inspections take
place to determine whether any adjustments need to be made. To learn more about these
metrics, please refer to the University Transportation Master Plan.
Why do you distribute more permits than there are spaces?
SPSU has a head count of over 8,000 students, faculty and staff, and just over 3,900
parking places. When you purchase a parking permit we are essentially buying a hunting
license, and you are not guaranteed a specific space. If we reduce the number of permits
sold more people who now qualify for permits would not be able to obtain them, so
they would not have the opportunity even to look for a space. If sales were capped,
permits would have to be rationed and the price of the permit could increase substantially
to cover expenses.
Has University Counsel reviewed the policy?
These changes do not require legal review, but University Counsel has been briefed
on the changes being made.