ANNUAL REPORT TO FACULTY SENATE
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
JANUARY 2009
The Department of Parking and Transportation Services
(P&T) consists of the following areas: parking lot inventory management and
enforcement, parking permit sales, finance and administration, motor pool
management, special events coordination and bicycle space management. The
following report is provided by the Parking and Transportation Office in
response to the Faculty Senate request outlined in Faculty Senate Resolution #02-43.
Recent Changes and
Issues
- The
State of North Carolina
lost its “Civil Fines” court case with the North Carolina Public School
System. The resulting forfeiture
equates to a $3.9 million reduction in reserves and $400,000 per year in
fine revenue transferring from ECU P&T to the North Carolina Public
School System. Due to this loss of
annual revenue and reserve funds, P&T is proposing to the ECU Board of
Trustees to increase permit fees to meet current operational expenses and
future capital needs. Most permit
fees will increase $1 - $2 per month ($.50 to $1 per pay period). Please refer to the attached Faculty
Welfare Committee meeting handout and the UNC Parking Fee Comparison
spreadsheet.
- The
Chancellor’s Executive Council approved an A Permit Parking Priority
Policy which allows Assistant Vice Chancellors, Chairs,
Assistant/Associate Deans, Directors and Chancellor’s staff to be
immediately eligible for an A permit, thus avoiding the A waiting
list. This proposed policy and
permit fee increase were reviewed with SGA, Staff Senate, Faculty Welfare
Committee, P&T Committee and Chancellor’s Executive Council. There was good discussion and P&T
agreed to provide recordkeeping and accountability to the process, similar
to what is done for reserved parking.
This policy is not expected to significantly impact the A zone
oversell.
- Athletics
agreed to provide $25,000/year to P&T for parking lot maintenance
starting in FY08/09.
- As
part of its sustainability effort, P&T has purchased two GEM electric vehicles
(http://www.gemcar.com/) to be tested
in patrols of the main campus. P&T also requested ten hybrid
vehicles through NC Motor Fleet, which are intended to replace older
vehicles currently in the motor pool.
Finally, P&T will be initiating a pilot test of a bicycle
sharing program on the main campus in the near future.
- Administration
and Finance is initiating a comprehensive master plan study that will
include a subcommittee to review parking, transit, pedestrian, bicycle and
traffic operation and flow.
Faculty, staff, students, city/county officials and the community
will be involved in this process.
- By
August 2009, state vehicles will no longer be stored on the core campus so
this prime parking space can be used by faculty, staff and visitors. Exceptions may be allowed for electric
vehicles and frequently used vehicles.
Service vehicle spaces will remain, but only enough to accommodate
daily service needs and overnight parking will no longer be allowed on the
core campus.
- Reorganization
changes within the department have been completed in order to continue
improvements in efficiency and customer service within the department.
- The
process regarding the renewal of “A” parking permit notification has been
improved. At the renewal period for the 07-08 year 180 faculty/staff
missed the renewal deadline for their “A” permits. A new process of weekly
notifications beginning 1 month prior to the renewal period, and extending
the renewal period from 2 weeks to the entire month of April was put in
place. The result was a reduction in the number of individuals missing the
renewal deadline – from 180
in FY07/08 to just 4 in
FY08/09.
- The
data collection program continues to mature and assist in the decision-making
process within the Department of Parking and Transportation Services. Data that is currently being collected
includes: all 7:00 pm dedicated lot usage, courtesy permit usage, retired
faculty space usage and Brody Outpatient lot usage. This information is
shared regularly with the P&T Committee and improves space utilization.
- The
motorcycle pad located in the landscaped area south of Christenbury has
been removed. This pad was removed over the Christmas break due to safety
concerns and area preservation of green space identified by the University
Environment Committee. At the time of removal, ample motorcycle parking
was available across 10th
street to handle the demand. Additional
spaces have been added in the area south of 10th Street and the core
campus to accommodate the current demand and future growth.
- The
Parking and Transportation website has been improved. More timely and pertinent information is
being provided to better educate and serve our customers.
- The
parking management software system was upgraded in December 2008. This upgrade provides more automated
functions and increases operational efficiency.
- At
the request of the Faculty Welfare Committee, P&T is considering
changing the A1 parking zone near Slay and Umstead into a 7:00 pm
zone. Part of this decision may
result in the change of the lot between Speight and Messick to a 3:00 pm
lot since lot usage data shows limited use by faculty and staff throughout
the day.
Faculty Senate
Resolution #02-43
- Oversell Ratio of Approximately 10% in
A and B zones: The “A” zone is maintained in the core campus zones
with an oversell rate of 10%. On the Health Sciences Campus the oversell
rate is based on availability. On this campus (HSC), one lot has become
the de facto overflow lot where vacant spaces are consistently plentiful
so additional permits have been sold beyond the 10% oversell. Nearly 50 spaces remain available at all
times.
- No changes in parking fees over a 4-year
period: P & T has not increased fees for parking on the East
Carolina University Campus since the implementation of the zone parking
system in 2003. P&T is
proposing a nominal fee increase to begin July 2009.
- Handicap spaces will not change in
terms of numbers and locations: Providing appropriate accessible
parking per ADA
requirements continues to be a high priority on ECU’s campuses. The
current supply is managed by Parking & Transportation Services with
the assistance of the Department of Disability Support Services in regards
to requirements and usage maximization in the appropriate locations.
- Enforcement practices adequate to
ensure operational objectives: P&T continues to emphasize education
to gain compliance of parking rules and regulations to improve customer
satisfaction.
- Transportation Enhancement: ECU
Student Transit Authority continues to be an enterprise run through
Student Affairs and SGA, but Parking and Transportation continues to improve
communication and coordination between these interrelated services.
Transit continues to have representation on the Parking and Transportation
Committee.
- Faculty and Staff have a preference
when permits are issued in Zones A and B: Patients and handicap permit
holders continue to have the highest priority for parking on campus with
the faculty and staff having the next highest priority. A zone permit holders should expect to
always find a parking space in the A zone that is within a 5-7 minute walk
to their destination (office or classroom).
- Retired Faculty receive free “A” zone
permit: The dedicated “Retired Faculty” parking spaces are constantly
monitored and data collected on the usage of the spaces. The number of
spaces currently meets any daily need for those individuals.
- Certain lots east of Founders Drive
and surrounding Jenkins Art will not be opened to other permits before 7:00
pm: These lots remain closed for any permit other than “A1, A3, A5 or
A7” permits until 7:00 pm. These lots are monitored nightly and
compliance/vacancy data collection is competed weekly in these areas.