Permit prices on the rise

For the first time in three years, the price of parking permits will increase for the 2004-05 academic year, IU Parking Operations announced last week.\nThe largest increase was in 'A' permits, which will increase from $254 to $264. Parking permits for 'C' and 'E' spots both went up by $3. The 'C' permit will now cost $99 and the 'E' will run $81. The only permit unchanged was the 'F', which remains at $39. \n"About $100,000 will be generated from the price increases," he said. "It is going to fund $100,000 worth of projects, and help for million dollar projects."\nOne such project Parking Operations is working on is paving the 'E' blue lot next to Assembly Hall and across from Briscoe Quad.\nPreliminary work is under way on paving the gravel lot, which is slated to be completed on August 20 and is costing about $1.2 million.\nThe paved blue lot will be a welcome sight for junior Amy Schroeder, who said she has used the lot for three years.\n"(The blue lot) is often very unorganized. People will park too close or too far apart and block people in," Schroeder said. "It will be really nice to have designated spots for parking with lines and actual spaces."\nParking Operations is planning three to four smaller projects this summer including 10th Street and Woodlawn Avenue behind the School of Informatics.\nThough improvements to parking lots might be needed, the need for more parking spots is a more pressing issue, junior Ryan Arnold said. \n"We obviously have parking issues here at (IU) with so many students," Arnold said. "I don't think paving is the solution. I think we should make more parking lots on campus somewhere."\nParking Operations does have plans for future parking garages because of the increasing student enrollment that is nearing 40,000.\nThough sites have not yet been determined, Porter said the new money coming in will help those plans along.\nMany students feel that the positives will outweigh the negatives of the price increase.\n"With a new smooth surface (in the 'E'0 blue lot), I won't have to worry so much about the weather," Schroeder said.\nEven though Arnold said he is unhappy about the prices increasing next year for an 'E' parking permit, which he has used for the past two years, he said he'll probably buy one in the fall regardless.\n"(The cost) is not a factor. It's a necessity, especially where I am going to live next year," Arnold said. "Even though I'm going to walk to class, I'm going to get the 'E' pass, so if I ever need it I can have the opportunity to use it."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu .