Parking & Transportation Proposal

Campus-Wide Forum

March 22, 2006

Questions from Budget & Planning Committee Prior to Forum

Question A:          The recommendations now suggest some reserved spots that will be available for $330 and that there is no stated limit to the number.  We believe in earlier drafts that the number was limited (perhaps ten).  The BPC is concerned if the number of reserved spots is unlimited then people with regular "E" permits may be forced to purchase the reserved spaces because they will be in competition for too few "E" spaces and playing a hunting game.  Has your committee considered this?  What is your response to this situation?

Answer:                  I share your concern over the reserved parking issue.  If this were available to all fac/staff who simply agree to pay the additional charge, and if a large number of fac/staff were to choose this option, it would negatively impact the entire parking plan and undermine the guiding principles followed in establishing it.  Since the proposal was submitted, we've discussed this issue in more detail, and our recommendation is that reserved parking be made available to any faculty and staff, but they must justify the need for it.  We envision an application process whereby the applicant for a reserved space will have to provide in writing their justification for needing it, including such things as the number of trips to and from GCSU each week on specific job-related business (not including daily arrival to work); specific meetings, duties, etc. requiring these trips; and frequency per week.  Rather than an application being reviewed/approved based on the position of the applicant (Dean, VP, etc.), it would be considered based on the justified need as it relates to specific job responsibilities.  The application would require a supervisor's approval for submission, and some mechanism would be in place to grant approval (parking office, application review committee, or the like).

Question B:          The permit prices remain essentially the same while the fines double.  What is to be done with this extra revenue?  I think the BPC actually wants to know what would be done with any revenue from the entire project.  Is there a list of priorities for parking and transportation fees/fines and if those are met where does the revenue go next?

Answer:                  Citation rates have been increased in order to encourage people to follow parking regulations.  Our committee considered what dollar value for offenses would be required in order to foster the desired behavior that will benefit the entire parking management system. The whole idea is that these increased citation rates will, very quickly, generate NO additional revenue for the system.  The plan is to enforce rules, not generate revenue.  So, at first, as people are becoming more familiar with the fact that parking will not be managed "as it always has" we may see a slight increase in citation revenue.  If the plan works as it should, though, this will be short-lived as people begin adhering to the rules instead of paying fines.  In the larger picture of revenue for the whole parking and transportation operation, you can see from the proposal that this unit is currently operating at a deficit.  As a unit of auxiliary services, any profit is always reinvested directly into improved facilities and services.

Question C:          We understand that students & employees here in the evening are to have an evening permit but we wonder what about large numbers of visitors here for events—say a basketball tournament?  We see that there are 64 visitor spaces allotted and we see a recommendation for metered parking, but we are uncertain what contingencies have been considered for those attending evening events.  Could you please explain these and your reasoning?

Answer:                  The idea behind requiring evening/night parking permits is that we have a segment of our student and faculty population who are not sharing in the cost of the parking they use (costs for re-striping, re-surfacing, signage, etc. are quite significant).  It is unfair to expect the ones who pay to cover the cost of those who don't when both parties are receiving the same benefit.  The primary areas impacted by this issue are those closest to the main square of campus (typically, people parking for night classes don't park beyond the core of campus).  The reason we have designated the Centennial Center lot for commuter parking is so those spaces will naturally open in the evenings to allow for event parking.  Events on the main campus (Russell Auditorium, Porter, etc.) must be addressed though.  For any event that's ticketed (for which tickets are sold), a parking permit can be issued for that event along with the ticket itself (something included with the event ticket to place on the dash of a car).  The biggest issue may be for events on the main campus that aren't ticketed (free concerts, etc.) where there's no way to know ahead of time who will attend.  Our committee is open to suggestions on how to handle these.  One option is to allow "open parking" on these evenings, and let people know parking permits will not be enforced at these times??  Obviously, there are still some details to work out here.  Again, we're open to suggestions.  Another option to consider would be not require evening permits but instead enforce regular permits until 6pm rather than 5:30pm.

Questions & Answers from Campus-Wide Informational Forum

Question 1:     Why is the fee for night parking $40 and not $120?

Answer:            The Regular permit allows night parking at no extra fee.

Question 2:     How will the parking problems after 5pm on campus be handled?

Answer:            There will be enforcement personnel assigned.  The fees will help offset the cost of these personnel.  This will be a fair way of helping spread the cost which isn’t happening at the current time.

Question 3:     What about Night/Street parking during events that is going on during the evening hours?  Are there enough Visitor parking places to accommodate the community?

Answer:            There are still details to be worked out for ticketed events on campus.  The unannounced events still need to be addressed.  We are open to suggestions as how to best handle this.  We want to make this aspect of parking as equitable as possible.

Question 4:     What street will be affected by the 242 “E” (employee) parking places?

Answer:            These parking places are around the main campus square and the specific areas are listed in the proposal.  It will be posted to the “Info Page” soon.  We will work with the City of Milledgeville and the State of Georgia to annex these parking spaces.

Question 5:     Is the Parking & Transportation Proposal accessible on the web so it can be viewed?

Answer:            It is on certain websites.  We will have it placed on a link from the Info Page.

Question 6:     Can an employee who gets a ‘free’ Parking permit (“P” perimeter) upgrade to the “E” (employee) permit for $40?

Answer:            No.  If an employee who makes under $16,000/year decides that they would like to have an “E” Parking permit they will pay the same $80/year fee as other employees.

Question 7:     Since there are approximately 800 faculty/staff and only 393 “E” parking spaces around the main campus, how do you plan to enforce the “E” parking spaces that are on the streets?

Answer:            There will be strict enforcement and citations will be issued.  Based on the current sell of “A” permits (faculty/staff) there are a total of 377.  These 393 street spaces should accommodate that number and there are some who will choose to park in the “P” (perimeter) lots.  Further, not all faculty and staff are on campus at the same time.

Question 8:     Will there be more than one shuttle bus at the Irwin Street lot and at the Centennial Center lot at the same time to accommodate the number of people parking in these lots?

Answer:            There will be continual loops and extended shuttle hours to transport the increased number of people parking in these lots.  Also, you can park in any lot after 5pm.

Question 9:     Is street parking on all streets near campus going to be permit only?

Answer:            No, only the streets directly adjacent to the main square of campus.

Question 10:   Will there be a posting at each shuttle stop letting you know when the next shuttle will arrive?

Answer:            There will be posted at each shuttle stop the times that shuttles are scheduled to arrive.  We are looking at only a 6 to 8 minute wait at any shuttle stop at any time.

Question 11:   What about lighting and blue lights (emergency) at the shuttle stops?

Answer:            SGA is addressing this now.

Question 12:   Where do the problems stop?  What are the provisions to maintain the minimum/maximum ratio that we now have of 62%?

Answer:            Good point.  We have not set a minimum/maximum.    We have included a provision that when existing parking spaces are removed there will need to be a plan to replace these spaces.  When a new building is built an appropriate number of parking spaces will need to be addressed for that building.

Question 13:   Based on recommendations, when will this parking plan take place?

Answer:            The goal is Fall Semester 2006.  The Parking & Transportation office will move from Public Safety to Auxiliary Services on May 15, 2006.  We will have the summer months to make this happen smoothly.

Question 14:   What about parking at Russell Auditorium?  There is currently anger in the community because the 60 parking spaces in front of Russell are being changed to “Yellow Stone Park East.”  What about these people who will not be coming to events because of no place to park? 

(There was applause at this point.)

Answer:            We need this kind of feedback.  All feedback is being considered, and will be forwarded to the President to consider with our proposal.

Question 15:   How will Street parking permits and Night permits affect people (potential students & parents) who are coming for tours or outsiders who are just coming to visit historical Milledgeville?  How would someone from Boston find a Visitors’ parking space?

Answer:            There will be visitors’ parking spaces located all across campus.

Question 16:   Do all employees have to purchase a parking permit?

Answer:            No.  You only purchase a parking permit if you choose to park in a GCSU parking space.

Question 17:   As there is increased shuttle service to the “P” (perimeter) lots will you be looking into including hybrid vehicles or more responsible vehicles?

Answer:            Yes, we are looking at expanding our shuttle fleet and will consider looking into other types of vehicles.

Question 18:   Since street parking will be limited to those who hold “E” (employee) permits what will be provided for parents who need to drop off their kids at the Miller Gym for dance and go to at “P” (perimeter) lot to park?  Will there be shuttle bus service for this?  What about handicapped parking?

Answer:            We already do this on an as-needed basis.  When we are made aware of a particular need we assess that need and respond as appropriate.  We are open to any suggestions to make this work better.

Question 19:   Have you given any thought to “no parking” allowed at all on campus?

Answer:            No.  We didn’t see the need to prohibit vehicles from the campus altogether.  The Master Plan calls for eliminating parking on the main square, however, and we’re working within the parameters of that plan.

Question 20:   Why are you splitting the lots between “residents/commuters?”  Why not just have one classification “Students?”

Answer:            The committee looked at a lot of different options and came up with what would best suit the needs of the campus.

Question 21:   How do you define “commuter.”

Answer:            Students who do not live in university housing.

Question 22:   What about the freshmen who live in Bell Hall—why do they have to park in a “P” (perimeter) lot?

Answer:            The Bell Lot as it is known now will be no more.  This will be green space except for loading/unload spaces.  All freshmen are required to park in “P” (perimeter) lots.  They usually park their cars and do not move them all week.  Also, the “R” (resident) lots are reserved for upper classmen so they can park closer to where they live.

Question 23:   Is there a long-range plan to build a parking deck/garage? 

Answer:            The Walker parking group suggested that there might be a possible need for a parking deck.  At the present time there is no need for a parking deck—there is a need to better manage the parking spaces that we have.  A parking garage would cost approximately $12,000 per space to build, and parking permit fees would have to be raised substantially to support it.

Question 24:   What about students who use the library late at night?  Will there be adequate shuttle service for them?  What about the SNAP program?  Some are reluctant to use the SNAP program and have been discouraged to use this program.  (An officer had told her that it was not unsafe to walk a block to her car and that it was not necessary to call for assistance.  She said she had been attacked one time.)  So, what do you do?

Answer:            There will be adequate parking in the Kilpatrick/Peabody parking lot that is very close to the library for students to use after hours.  The SNAP program will also be available when needed.

Question 25:   Do you plan on expanding the shuttle service?

Answer:            Yes.  Details are to still be ironed out, but included will be additional buses and expanded hours.

Question 26:   What happens when employees get to work early (before 7:30am) and fill up the Peabody parking lot marked “C” (commuter)?  Where will the commuters park?

Answer:            There is adequate parking for all commuters/faculty/staff in the parking plan. 

Question 27:   How many reserved spaces will be available and where will these be located?

Answer:            This number has not been determined.  It will be limited, however, so as to not negatively impact the overall parking plan.  Justification will be required to receive a reserved space, and supervisors’ approval will be required as well.  Locations will have to be worked out with the Parking & Transportation Office.

Question 28:   Will the Bell Hall parking lot be turned into green space?

Answer:            Yes, except for loading/unloading spaces and handicap spaces.

Question 29:   Will employees be allowed (with a permit) to park in spaces allotted to students?  We aren’t allowed to park in student spaces now.

Answer:            Employees may park in student parking space except those designated as “R” (resident) spaces.

Question 30:   How did you determine to designate the Centennial Center parking lot as a “C” (commuter) lot?