News

Campus parking a pricey proposition

Auraria rates double those at other colleges

By Brad Riggin
rigginb@mscd.edu

Auraria students are paying more than twice as much to park on campus than commuters at other area colleges.

An analysis of parking fees at the Auraria Higher Education Center, the University of Denver, Front Range Community College in Westminster, Arapahoe Community College and Red Rocks Community College showed the disparity.

Commuters at the University of Denver paid $108 this year for a general parking permit, which allows them to park in any general lot at any time for the academic year, according to DU parking services.

Students at AHEC pay anywhere from $1.50 to $5 a day to park on campus lots and garages.

An Auraria student who parks twice a week this semester-32 days-in a $3.75 lot or garage, which are most abundant on campus, will pay around $120 for the semester. That is $12 more than DU commuters pay for the entire year.

Commuters at area community colleges paid anywhere from 95 cents to $13 per semester to park.

Mark Gallagher, director of parking and transportation services for AHEC, said it is difficult to compare Auraria's parking rates with those of community colleges.

"You're talking apples and oranges with community colleges because of the number of people who need to be parked (at community colleges) compared to Auraria," Gallagher said. "We have to look to expand our facilities more than I think they would."

Students who drive to the University of Denver paid $108 for a general parking permit this year, according to DU parking services.

The permit allows students to park in any general lot at any time and it lasts the entire academic year.

All students at area community colleges pay a flat fee for parking each semester. The fees range from 95 cents to $13, according to college administrators.

•Students at Front Range Community College in Westminster pay $13 per semester.

•Students at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton pay $8 per semester.

•Students at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood pay 95 cents per semester.

Mark Gallagher, director of parking and transportation, said AHEC parking fees are generally lower than those in the surrounding Denver area.

"Our lots start at just a $1.50 and go up to $5 based on their proximity to the campus core," Gallagher said.

Parking services uses value pricing to determine the cost of a lot or garage, Gallagher said. The lot's distance to the campus core, around the flagpole at Auraria Square, determines how much it will cost to park.

Gallagher said that parking rates are based on what is needed to build parking structures to accommodate a growing student body that stands at around 30,000.

Gallagher said he does not believe the Auraria Board of Directors would use any surplus revenue to lower parking fees.

"I don't know that the board would be interested in reducing rates because of the improvements that have been made to the campus," he said. "On the other hand, I don't believe that they are interested in raising rates either because the main goal is still to get students to school."

Gallagher said using a flat fee would not allow parking services to maximize the spaces they have available.

"The board hasn't done a flat fee because with 7,000 spaces and 30,000 students and faculty, we depend on turning over the lots to make sure students can get to class," Gallagher said.

Selling permits would mean that spaces would have to be reserved for those permits, when many students only attend class two days a week or are in class for only part of the day, he said.

Turning over the lots allows more students to park because spaces open up as students leave, he said.

Nearly half of parking revenue used for campus maintenance

Your parking fees at Auraria are not just being used to cover operating expenses, parking improvements and expansion.

Parking services commonly takes in surplus revenue the Auraria Board of Directors has been using to fund controlled maintenance, or emergency repairs, on campus.

Parking services plan to earn just over $8.6 million during this fiscal year, according to the 2005-2006 budget. Around $8.2 million of the projected revenues will come from parking fees and fines.

A total of $3,563,537 was used on upgrades and maintenance last year.

AHEC parking services is funded solely through its own revenues and receives no tax dollars or student fees.

AHEC did not start using parking revenues for campus improvements until the last couple of years, Gallagher said.

Parking services has built up reserves of between $6 million and $8 million and did not use them until the state cut controlled maintenance funding out of AHEC's budget three years ago.

PARKING DOLLARS

$2.5M The estimated amount in parking revenue at the end of this fiscal year, after funding for campus upgrades.

$849K Approximate amount in parking revenues spent on campus upgrades during the 2004-05 fiscal year.

$199K Approximate amount spent last year from parking revenues on classroom improvements and renovations.

$650K Approximate amount spent to re-locate tennis courts for construction of the new Tivoli parking garage.

Dean Wolf, executive vice president for administration, said the Auraria Board of Directors approved the use of $500,000 from parking reserves to fund controlled maintenance during their last meeting.

Along with using parking reserves, the board considered asking students to approve a $40 per semester student fee last Spring to fund controlled maintenance.

Wolf said that the parking reserves are not going to be enough to keep up with campus maintenance that is estimated to cost around $18 million over the next five years and $4.9 million this school year.

The fee was never brought before students for approval, but if the cuts continue and state voters do not approve Referendums C and D Nov. 1, the board will have to reconsider alternative funding, Wolf said.

The alternative funding for controlled maintenance could include increased parking fees.

The board will hold a meeting Nov. 11 to discuss how to fund future controlled maintenance.

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[an error occurred while processing this directive]	Volume 28, Issue 07, October 6, 2005 News Campus parking a pricey proposition Auraria rates double those at other colleges By Brad Riggin rigginb@mscd.edu Auraria students are paying more than twice as much to park on campus than commuters at other area colleges. An analysis of parking fees at the Auraria Higher Education Center, the University of Denver, Front Range Community College in Westminster, Arapahoe Community College and Red Rocks Community College showed the disparity. Commuters at the University of Denver paid $108 this year for a general parking permit, which allows them to park in any general lot at any time for the academic year, according to DU parking services. Students at AHEC pay anywhere from $1.50 to $5 a day to park on campus lots and garages. An Auraria student who parks twice a week this semester-32 days-in a $3.75 lot or garage, which are most abundant on campus, will pay around $120 for the semester. That is $12 more than DU commuters pay for the entire year. Commuters at area community colleges paid anywhere from 95 cents to $13 per semester to park. Mark Gallagher, director of parking and transportation services for AHEC, said it is difficult to compare Auraria's parking rates with those of community colleges. "You're talking apples and oranges with community colleges because of the number of people who need to be parked (at community colleges) compared to Auraria," Gallagher said. "We have to look to expand our facilities more than I think they would." Students who drive to the University of Denver paid $108 for a general parking permit this year, according to DU parking services. The permit allows students to park in any general lot at any time and it lasts the entire academic year. All students at area community colleges pay a flat fee for parking each semester. The fees range from 95 cents to $13, according to college administrators. •Students at Front Range Community College in Westminster pay $13 per semester. •Students at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton pay $8 per semester. •Students at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood pay 95 cents per semester. Mark Gallagher, director of parking and transportation, said AHEC parking fees are generally lower than those in the surrounding Denver area. "Our lots start at just a $1.50 and go up to $5 based on their proximity to the campus core," Gallagher said. Parking services uses value pricing to determine the cost of a lot or garage, Gallagher said. The lot's distance to the campus core, around the flagpole at Auraria Square, determines how much it will cost to park. Gallagher said that parking rates are based on what is needed to build parking structures to accommodate a growing student body that stands at around 30,000. Gallagher said he does not believe the Auraria Board of Directors would use any surplus revenue to lower parking fees. "I don't know that the board would be interested in reducing rates because of the improvements that have been made to the campus," he said. "On the other hand, I don't believe that they are interested in raising rates either because the main goal is still to get students to school." Gallagher said using a flat fee would not allow parking services to maximize the spaces they have available. "The board hasn't done a flat fee because with 7,000 spaces and 30,000 students and faculty, we depend on turning over the lots to make sure students can get to class," Gallagher said. Selling permits would mean that spaces would have to be reserved for those permits, when many students only attend class two days a week or are in class for only part of the day, he said. Turning over the lots allows more students to park because spaces open up as students leave, he said. Nearly half of parking revenue used for campus maintenance Your parking fees at Auraria are not just being used to cover operating expenses, parking improvements and expansion. Parking services commonly takes in surplus revenue the Auraria Board of Directors has been using to fund controlled maintenance, or emergency repairs, on campus. Parking services plan to earn just over $8.6 million during this fiscal year, according to the 2005-2006 budget. Around $8.2 million of the projected revenues will come from parking fees and fines. A total of $3,563,537 was used on upgrades and maintenance last year. AHEC parking services is funded solely through its own revenues and receives no tax dollars or student fees. AHEC did not start using parking revenues for campus improvements until the last couple of years, Gallagher said. Parking services has built up reserves of between $6 million and $8 million and did not use them until the state cut controlled maintenance funding out of AHEC's budget three years ago. PARKING DOLLARS $2.5M The estimated amount in parking revenue at the end of this fiscal year, after funding for campus upgrades. $849K Approximate amount in parking revenues spent on campus upgrades during the 2004-05 fiscal year. $199K Approximate amount spent last year from parking revenues on classroom improvements and renovations. $650K Approximate amount spent to re-locate tennis courts for construction of the new Tivoli parking garage. Dean Wolf, executive vice president for administration, said the Auraria Board of Directors approved the use of $500,000 from parking reserves to fund controlled maintenance during their last meeting. Along with using parking reserves, the board considered asking students to approve a $40 per semester student fee last Spring to fund controlled maintenance. Wolf said that the parking reserves are not going to be enough to keep up with campus maintenance that is estimated to cost around $18 million over the next five years and $4.9 million this school year. The fee was never brought before students for approval, but if the cuts continue and state voters do not approve Referendums C and D Nov. 1, the board will have to reconsider alternative funding, Wolf said. The alternative funding for controlled maintenance could include increased parking fees. The board will hold a meeting Nov. 11 to discuss how to fund future controlled maintenance.
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