Auraria parking
rates increased
by Lindsay Sandham & Ryan Donahue
The Metropolitan
(Photo by Danny Holland - The Metropolitan)
CU Denver student Michael Duff, a senior majoring in electrical engineering,
feeds the parking machine in Lot C an extra 50 cents July 27. On July
1st parking prices raised various amounts around campus.
As of July 1, parking rates at Auraria have increased an average of 25
cents per day.
According to Mark Gallagher, director of parking and transportation,
the increase was necessary to fund a range of campus needs.
He said parking and transportation is financially supporting campus projects
in response to cutbacks from state funding for higher education.
Mike Matulonis, transportation manager of parking and transportation
services, said it is the only self-funded department on campus, therefore
they are able to contribute to other campus needs, such as the repairs
done to the roof of the events center and the addition of six smart classrooms
in the Administration building.
Gallagher said this is the first parking rate increase in four years.
“We know that an increase is tough on students, which is why we
kept some rates the same,” Gallagher said.
He also said parking on campus is still considerably cheaper than downtown
and they intend to keep it that way.
“Just across the street they charge like seven to 10 dollars a
day to park, and that’s across the street,” said Metro student
Alec Siwek.
Parking revenue will also go toward funding the new parking garage, scheduled
to start construction in September, and will most likely be up and running
by Spring 2005.
The 800-space garage will be located on the north side of the Tivoli
where the tennis courts used to be.
Six new tennis courts will be built on the northeast corner of the athletic
fields.
Gallagher said the structure will cost a maximum of $24 million, $19 million
of which will be paid for with a revenue bond loan, which means the fees
from parking are used as a guarantee for payback, and the remainder will
come from parking reserves.
Matulonis said they are able to charge Pepsi Center event-goers more
money for utilizing campus parking, which has helped increase parking
revenue.
“We’ve been fortunate with some of the events that we can
direct funding to other projects,” Gallagher said.
Auraria students have alternatives to paying for parking as well.
All students are charged a $22 per semester bus pass fee, which allows
them to ride local busses and the Light Rail free of charge.
Parking lots located at several light rail stations, such as the Alameda
station and the I-25 and Broadway station, are also free, but tend to
fill up quickly.
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