The Why Behind Parking Permit Fees at USU
Staff members who have a USU parking permit will be receiving notice of an increase in parking permit costs in the next few weeks (will show up in April 1 paychecks for current permit holders). As members of the USU Parking & Transportation Advisory Committee, SEA Board members want to help our members understand the why behind those increases and how we compare with parking costs at other institutions around the region.
How is Parking Funded at USU?
The State of Utah has legislated that the Board of Regents set regulations for Higher Education in the state. Those regulations require that parking be self-funded. In other words, USU Parking & Transportation Services is required to pay its own way. That means they are not allocated institutional funds to off-set the cost of building or maintaining parking structures and lots, and other department expenses, including labor. To cover the cost of bonds used to build parking structures and lots, department labor, and maintenance costs, USU charges parking fees to permit holders and assesses other parking-related fees (e.g. parking fines).
Why Are USU Parking Permit Rates Increasing?
Have you seen your cost for groceries, housing, and other necessities go up over the last several months? Costs for parking structure construction and maintenance are seeing an increase as well. With the rise in those costs, permit prices must increase to cover those costs.
Dollar Breakdown of Parking Expenses
These figures represent 2022-23 data.
| Expense | Amount ($) | % |
|---|---|---|
| Department Labor | $744,253 | 26 |
| Bond Payment - Aggie Terrace | $557,037 | 19 |
| Bond Payment - Gateway Terrace | $577,170 | 20 |
| Administrative Fees | $96,090 | 3 |
| Parking Lot Improvements | $372,900 | 13 |
| Snow Removal | $60,600 | 2 |
| IT/Telephone/Network Systems/Cameras | $117,468 | 4 |
| Operating Expenses | $384,605 | 13 |
| Total | $2,910,123 | 100% |
Parking Revenue Breakdown
Sources of Revenue
- Parking Permit Sales (including Terrace Sales/Blue Premium) = 85%
- Fines = 6%
- Dedicated (Service stalls) = 3%
- Meter Revenue = 4%
- Athletic Events = 2 %
Expenses add up to nearly $3M with the largest chunk going to make bond payments for our parking terraces. Labor costs make up the next largest slice with more than $700K for team members that work to stay ahead of the constant changes to parking locations, maintenance, enforcement and other key services.
Beyond the costs listed in the graphics, there are a number of parking lot improvement projects that they share costs with Facilities.
2023-24 Concerns
- Construction of the Mehdi Heravi building near Ray B. West--loss of stalls in Purple lot
- Funding for a new South Campus Terrace
- Structural condition of Big Blue Terrace
- Loss of parking stalls in Gray 3 (student) and Gold (faculty/staff) lots
- Remodel of BNR south wing--loss of stalls in Red NR lot
- Managing parking permits with new telecommuting schedules (looking at ways to manage parking permit use with these changes)
Challenges for Parking on Campus
- Convenience is… well… convenient.
- Most people want the convenience of coming and going at will
- Most people aren’t willing, or are unable, to walk very far to get to their final destination
- Every parking lot is a future building
- If you drive a vehicle to campus, rest assured that today’s parking stall may someday be replaced by a building for studying, working, shopping, eating or storage.
- As campus grows, more stalls will be moved to more expensive parking garages or surface lots.
Cost of a Terrace Stall
Building parking lots and parking structures is very costly. To give you an idea of how that breaks down, take a look at the Gateway Parking Terrace as an example:
- Terrace Cost Initial Cost = $12M
- 30-Year Bond Payments = $17M
- Number of Stalls = 400
- Cost/stall = $42,470
- Useful Life = 50 years
- Cost per year to park in a stall = $849.00*
- Price of an annual Gateway permit = $353.00
*Doesn’t include maintenance costs over 50-year life of structure (e.g. repair to fire suppression is $140K).
Changes for 2023
Parking permit fee increases will take effect on March 1. You can see a full list of permit fees on the Parking & Transportation website after that date.
| Faculty/Staff Lots | 2022 Permit Price | 2023 Permit Price | Annual Increase | Monthly Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggie Terrace | $330 | $353 | $23 | $1.92 |
| Big Blue Terrace | $330 | $353 | $23 | $1.92 |
| Gateway Terrace | $330 | $353 | $23 | $1.92 |
| Brown/Gold | $245 | $262 | $17 | $1.42 |
| Purple | $245 | $262 | $17 | $1.42 |
| Red | $245 | $262 | $17 | $1.42 |
| Orange | $235 | $251 | $16 | $1.33 |
| Teal | $235 | $251 | $16 | $1.33 |
| Black | $235 | $251 | $16 | $1.33 |
| Green | $200 | $214 | $14 | $1.17 |
| Electric Vehicle (EV) | $260 | $278 | $18 | $1.50 |
Any excess funds brought in (e.g. more than anticipated fines or cost-saving measures) are rolled into a fund dedicated to the increasingly expensive lots and garages needed to park our students, staff and guests on campus.
How does USU Add Up Compared to Our Regional Peers?
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the increase, look at the comparative cost of parking at our sister institutions in the region. The University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Idaho State, Colorado State, Montana State, Boise State, UNLV, New Mexico, San Diego State, and San Jose State all charge more for their faculty/staff permits than USU, and some by quite a lot.
USU Parking Advisory Committee
USU administration has established the Parking & Transportation Advisory Committee to advise them on recommended changes to parking lot designations, construction projects, and permit rates. This ensures a broad review of parking needs at the Logan campus. Membership on the committee is listed below and most terms are for three years.
- Chair – John Bostock, Executive Director, Housing Services
- 3 Faculty Members – Two from the Faculty Senate and one at-large member nominated by the VP for Finance & Administrative Services
- 4 Staff Members – From the Staff Employee Association, USU Planning group in Facilities, and USU Housing
- 5 Students – Four student officers from USUSA and a student from the Residents Hall Association
- Secretary – The Committee Chair appoints a secretary for the committee