RPS fights to keep freshman parking

The outlook isn't promising for those who struggle to find parking spaces on campus. The President's Parking Commission was unable to come up with a viable long-term solution in its meeting Wednesday as Residential Programs and Services fought to keep freshman parking spaces near residence halls.\nIn response to a proposal discussed in the committee's last meeting that would make spots available to faculty and move freshman parking to the stadium, RPS Executive Director Pat Connor said he opposed the potential move because it would strip the program of needed funds. \n"Realistically, eliminating freshman parking reduces parking revenue for RPS," Connor said. \nThe revenue goes toward the upkeep and maintenance of those lots, he added. \nConnor said RPS would be willing to give up spots in the McNutt and Briscoe quads' parking lots, where there are vacancies. \n"It seems to me (the McNutt and Briscoe lots) aren't really desirable for faculty/staff parking," said Ted Miller, Bloomington Faculty Council president and co-chairman of the Commission. "The ones that are, are the ones you don't want to give up." \nConnor opposed giving up parking spaces in the southwest neighborhood by Forest Quad and Read Hall to faculty because it would ward off upperclassmen from living on campus. \n"Doing that would hurt the ability to retain sophomores, juniors and seniors (in the residence halls)" he said. \nFewer upperclassmen would remain on campus if parking was not available, he said, leaving all residence halls for first-year students. \nMiller said a change in the cost of parking permits is a different recommendation he wants the commission to consider in the future. \n"What I'd like to see us do is make parking at the stadium more attractive," he said. \nAfter lowering the rates of stadium parking, other rates would have to go up, he said. However, Miller added the commission would have to consider it before voting on the issue as well as having it approved by IU President Adam Herbert. \nThe committee also discussed short-term plans as they plot out a new parking garage. Assuming bids from the contractors come back appropriately, a new garage will be constructed at the southwest corner of campus between Third Street and Atwater Avenue, where a parking lot currently exists, Miller said. \nThe only problem, he said, was the garage would temporarily dislocate parking for about 150 motorists who park in the lot now. Most of the lot is composed of C permit spaces. The commission is looking into possible solutions including opening up more C permits in the lot behind the Psychology Building as Physical Plant workers currently parking there will be relocating to another building in the spring. \nUniversity Architect Bob Meadows said he hoped the parking garage project would start Nov. 1 with the vacating of the lot. \n"It's possible we'll have a new garage by next fall," he said. \nManager of IU Parking Operations Doug Porter said the project, which will cost about $11.5 million, will only serve those with A permits or those willing to pay for parking by the hour.