Cal U Commuter Council Parking Presentation

Transportation at Cal U

Parking is more than just permits Cal U has about 9,500 students, an estimated 100,000+ visitor s to campus and hundr eds of special events annually. Our mission is to educate and manage a tr anspor tation system that: • Provides transportation options.

• Provides transportation safety and security.

• Provides efficient, reliable shuttle transportation.

• Provides the University community and guests with the best possible experience at Cal U.

What are some of the transportation options at Cal U? – This bus brings students and faculty from Pittsburgh and the Park and Ride in Large, Pa., directly to campus and back each day. (Operated by MMVTA) – The Vulcan Garage offers hourly rates for short-term parking.

– Park and Ride using the Vulcan Flyers.

– Link bikes to shuttles for a portion of your commute.

– Carpooling.

– Ride sharing with Zipcar.

Safety

“ I don’t want to ride the bus.”

Most major employment centers are located in areas where mass transit is the most cost-effective means of travel.

Vulcan Flyers have: • Wi-Fi access • Radio • AC • Perimeter seating Ridership in 2010-2011: 180,000

Vulcan Flyer Service • Monday-Friday – 5:30 a.m-11:30 p.m.

• Weekends – 7 a.m. Saturday-1 a.m. Sunday – 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

• Total vehicles in the fleet: 11

“ People will not come if they have to pay to park.”

• In 2010-2011, Cal U hosted more than 100,000 visitor s on campus and more than 300 special events.

• Many expect to pay to park, as they would anywhere else.

• No one has indicated that parking has been a deterrent to coming to campus for events. In fact, the opposite is true. Managed parking allows for more events to occur, and people can find a place to park.

• I t is a testament to the value of the pr ogr ams her e at Cal U .

Permits and Costs Many universities charge for parking. Here is how Cal U’s parking rates compare to other local universities:

• Cal U • WVU • IUP • Duquesne • Pitt

$175 per semester $180 per semester $212 per semester $374 per semester $368 per semester

“ The permit is a distraction.�

The parking permit needs to be displayed when the vehicle is parked.

Reasons the permit was designed as a hang tag include: 1. Ease of transfer from vehicle to vehicle.

2. Removable while driving.

3. Properly displayed permit, rearview mirror, dashboard, visor.

“ I already pay a lot in tuition. Why isn’t parking included?”

• Par k ing is viewed by the State System of Higher Education as an auxiliary unit of the University. This means it must be selfsufficient through the collection of fees separate from tuition.

• Par k ing is a user fee-based system. If you park, you pay for that privilege. If you determine that some other mode of transportation is more economical, then you may choose that mode. As such, the fees are based upon the level of convenience the customer wishes to obtain.

•

T his system is ver y similar to w hen you pur chase concer t tick ets. T he closer you ar e to the stage, the higher the pr ice for a tick et.

Warning-First Philosophy • Cal U has a policy of providing a single warning to first-time offenders in most cases.

This is to help individuals become aware of the parking rules. • Municipalities do not provide this type of warning-first approach.

“ I was only in the building for a few minutes.�

Par k ing D efinition 1. Stopping and leaving a vehicle; the action of driving a vehicle to a location and leaving it there.

2. To bring a vehicle to a stop. Typically a parked vehicle is off the roadway, not running, and the dr iver has left the vehicle.

3. The act of maneuvering a vehicle into a location w her e it can be left tempor ar ily.

“ What does the transportation fee fund?”

• Roadway construction, maintenance and repairs.

• Signage and traffic control.

• Subsidize the access to public transit services.

• All Cal U students ride both Vulcan Flyers and Mid-Mon Transit for F REE.

“ Do you need to have a permit to park in the garage?”

• No. Although we do have some permit holders in the garage, most of the spaces have been set aside to give students and guests a pay-by-the-hour option.

•

Example: Jill has one night class this semester. She is on campus one day per week for approximately 4 hours. Her cost per semester in the garage is $60 vs. a permit at $175.

“ I will not pay for parking. It's too expensive.”

We have heard from some people around campus •

F aculty: “ I am glad to have a place to park. As a faculty person traveling from Pittsburgh, I could never know if there would be a place to park on campus. Now I know there will be a space.”

•

Staff: “ I can leave campus for an appointment and know that when I return, I can park in my lot.”

•

Student: “ I like how the parking system works. I can leave campus and return knowing that I don’t have to circle campus for a half hour searching for a place to park.”

•

Student : “ Now I can park and not be late for classes.”

“ Someone told me …They said …

I heard …”

• For accurate information on anything related to parking and transportation services at Cal U, please visit our web page at www.calu.edu/ parking • The webpage includes.

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Maps Rates Rules Videos

• Or call 724-938-4677