UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 2, Page 1
September 8, 1994
Parking changes will help ease limited available space

     Those returning to campus will find several parking changes as a
result of new construction projects and continuing efforts to use
limited campus space more efficiently for commuting vehicles.
      Parking is going to be tight and enforcement will be strict
until the Main Street parking garage, currently under construction, is
completed sometime in mid-1995, according to Lt. James Grimes, traffic
manager in Public Safety. This, he said, is to insure that those
paying for parking will have the best conditions available,
considering the difficult situation.
     Two low-cost, remote "Blue" lots have been established for
employees. As a special incentive for this year, the fee for those
lots has been waived.
     South Blue, currently with 140 spaces (but it can be expanded),
is located to the west of the Bob Carpenter Center. The other, known
as North Blue, offers parking north of Clayton Hall.
     These two new Blue parking permit areas are served by University
Shuttle Bus service from 7:15 a.m. to 1:55  a.m., Monday through
Friday. On weekends, and after 4 p.m. each day, the Blue permits also
are valid in Gold lots on campus. UD Transit schedules are available
from both Public Safety and University Transit Services.
     Douglas Tuttle, director of Public Safety, said there is renewed
emphasis on gated parking, both to help guarantee sticker holders
parking during a period of limited availability and to utilize
University lots more efficiently.
     According to Grimes, the gated lot behind Pearson Hall, named the
Haines Street Lot, has been expanded to 36 spaces, and it can be
increased to 80 spaces if needed based on gated lot parking requests.
     A new, 40-space gated lot will be opened this fall in the rear
section of the Amy E. du Pont Music Building lot, off Orchard Road. It
also will be expanded if there are sufficient requests.
     The library gated lot has 62 spaces, and it may be increased if
needed. The Amstel Avenue gated lot has 119 spaces.
     Tuttle explained that reserved spaces-those designated for a
particular driver from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. or for 24 hours a day-are the
least efficient use of parking space. In the lot behind the Amy E. du
Pont Music Building, he said, those who currently hold reserved spaces
near the Orchard Road entrance will be asked to transfer their parking
status to permits for the new gated lot to be established nearby.
     Often, reserved spaces stand empty when lots are nearly full,
Tuttle said, and it isn't efficient. On the other hand, he estimated
that a gated lot can accommodate between 10 to 20 percent more
automobiles than there are spaces. In a 50-space lot, there would be
between 55 and 60 cardholders because all the drivers do not use the
closed facility at the same time. To insure authorized usage and avoid
over-occupancy problems, gated lots are monitored and examined
periodically by parking officials.
     There also is an absence of violations in gated lots, Grimes
said. Only those who have paid for access are able to enter the lot.
With reserved spots, ticketing and towing often occur since violators
often ignore posted warning signs.
     In an effort to bring the University into compliance with
mandates of the federal Clean Air Act, Public Safety officials
continue to encourage drivers to arrive on campus through means other
than in individually operated personal vehicles.
     Carpooling enticements have been increased in 1994-95. Employees
are able to share the annual parking fee cost with a 10 percent
discount applied to all carpools of three or more persons. In
addition, for 1994-95, each participating carpool driver will receive
10 daily passes that can be used throughout the year when it becomes
necessary for more than one carpooler to have a vehicle on campus.
     Individual parking passes, at $3 per day, also are available at
the traffic office at Public Safety. These cards, which carry gold lot
privileges, can be purchased by faculty and staff and are activated
when they are used. They are ideal for those who normally don't drive
to work, Grimes said, since the daily permits provide an important
option for non-driving commuters.
     Parking permit holders are able to change their sticker status
during the year. For information, call Grimes at 831-1184.
                                                         -Ed Okonowicz