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Volume 71, Issue 110,
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
News Garage permit sales sluggish Despite University marketing and
promotion,
by KELLY J. SANTOS
The parking garage located at the corner of Entrance 1 and Calhoun Road opened in January and although there is still a high demand for parking on campus, few garage permits have been sold. UH Parking and Transportation Services has sold 406 student parking permits for the new parking garage so far. The building has an overall 1,500-space capacity. Two hundred of the spaces sold are new issues and 206 are upgrades from students' existing permits. "During peak times, the garage averages 250 vehicles," Bob Browand, director of parking and transportation services said. "We knew there would be a ramping up period before we would reach our maximum numbers." There are several reasons for the low turnout in the garage such as price, location and students not being aware the garage is open, Browand said. Garage permits are $200 a year or $120 for a semester. Upgrading costs range from $35 to $88. During the UH Staff Council Spring forum, UH President Jay Gogue announced that the cost for garage permits will not increase in 2007. "Price is always an issue," Browand said. "Students will have to weigh the benefits of parking in a garage to the added cost, and hopefully, they will see the benefits outweigh the cost." The garage provides students, faculty and staff with easy access to the freeway, covered parking, controlled access with limited oversell and close proximity to activity centers such as the University Center and the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, Browand said. "It's better for my truck," biology senior Matt Jones said. "It's not in the sun and the heat and stuff like that, and I don't have to fight for a parking spot." Judy Cox, a Texas Learning and Computation Center staff member, said she moved to the parking garage because of the shade it provides her vehicle during hot days and because her vehicle would be at least two levels up in the event of any flooding. "As for location, the first two weeks of the semester, we opened the garage up to anyone and were averaging close to 900 vehicles a day," Browand said. "That leads me to believe that location is not a major issue." The Houston heat and the closeness of the garage to the UH Hilton is why hotel and restaurant management senior Steve Hwang is willing to pay $200 for his permit. In November, Parking and Transportation Services started advertising the opening of the garage. E-mails were sent to students, faculty and staff listservs; postcards were mailed to students promoting the opening and upgrade offers, and signs were put up around the garage, Browand said. Parking and Transportation is currently working on a marketing plan for the summer and fall with UH's Division of University Advancement, Browand said. Members of the Parking and Transportation Advisor Committee decided at their March 9 meeting that the garage should be open for students attending orientation during the summer. Committee members said that making the garage free to incoming students would help persuade freshmen to buy garage permits in the fall. The committee also voted to recommend a 4 percent increase in the price of parking permits, excluding the garage. Eventually all parking along Entrance 1, except the pre-existing garage and parking lot, will be eliminated to provide a more aesthetically pleasing view of the University's entrance. The garage was designed with safety in mind, Browand said. "From the express ramp system that eliminates interior walls, the above industry standard lighting, security camera and call boxes, to the glass enclosed elevators and stairwell, safety was always at the top of the list." "We are confident that the garage utilization will reach our expectations," Browand said. "We would, however, appreciate hearing any ideas the student body has regarding not only the parking garage but parking at UH in general." Additional reporting by Lorinda Robb and Allison Wardzinski Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
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