Proposed increases to parking fees and program fares

Consistent with the campus review and approval process, this message is to notify the campus community of a proposal to increase parking fees and to solicit feedback. Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) is proposing annual increases to most parking fees and program fares over a three-year period starting July 2015 and continuing through June 2018.
 
Most parking fees have not increased since July 2006, although vanpool fares and the faculty/staff bus pass price increased this year. The proposal aims to increase the proportion of revenues generated by parkers who purchase temporary permits or use pay stations and meters; however, nearly all parking fees will be affected.
 
If approved:
·  annual A permits will increase $36 each year (from the current $792 to $828, $864, and $900, respectively);
·  daily A permits will increase from the current $6 to $8 the first year, and to $10 in July 2017;
·  academic R permits will increase from the current $474/year to $519, $570, and $594;
·  the hourly rate at meters and paystations will increase from the current $1.50 to $2.00, $2.25, and $2.50 over the next three years; and
·  the flat rate at paystations (after 4:30 p.m. and on weekends) will increase from the current $3 to $4 in July 2015 and to $5 in July 2017.
 
In addition, carpool permits will be restricted to groups of three or more participants per permit. Pairs of individuals may still purchase A permits with the costs divided equally between them, but will not be eligible to purchase an A carpool permit (or park in spaces reserved for carpool permit holders). The full proposal is available online at the TAPS website.
 
The proposed increases will generate revenues needed to fund operations, maintain parking-subsidized sustainable transportation programs, and acquire new technology to improve reliability and efficiency. These revenues are also needed to build a reserve fund to support future capital construction and operating needs. TAPS is supported solely by user fees because it’s an auxiliary enterprise. In the years since the last parking fee increase, annual parking revenues have declined 7 percent — in part due to the success of alternative transportation options. At the same time, operating costs (including salaries and benefits, fuel, regulatory compliance, and maintenance) have all continued to increase.
 
As part of the approval process for this proposal, campus affiliates are invited to submit comments to tapsfeecomments-group@ucsc.edu between April 10 and May 26, 2015. TAPS will summarize the comments and forward them to Chancellor George Blumenthal. The chancellor may either proceed with approval of the fee proposal increase and implementation, or he may return it to TAPS for modification. If approved by the chancellor and executive vice chancellor/campus provost, the final fee increases would take effect July 2015 or soon thereafter.