As the University prepares to welcome students, faculty, and staff back for the fall semester, the Parking & Transportation department has been hard at work enhancing the campus parking experience through a series of summer upgrades.
Over the past few months, several lots and garages have been revamped to improve safety, efficiency, and convenience. Notably, Lot 19C in Zone C was repaved and equipped with a new storm drain to address persistent standing water issues to improve the parking experience for community members.
In addition to infrastructure improvements, the department is modernizing access systems across campus. All garages and gated lots are being outfitted with new gate equipment that allows users to tap their Cougar Card instead of swiping, reducing delays and improving reliability.
鈥淭he new system allows users to tap their Cougar Card on a reader, replacing the older swipe-based system. This change will reduce delays caused by card orientation issues and streamline access,鈥� said Richard Zagrzecki, Assistant Director of Parking & Transportation. 鈥淪everal surface lots are also being restriped to improve traffic flow and maximize space efficiency.鈥�
Another major enhancement is the installation of License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology at the entrances and exits of the Welcome Center Garages and the Elgin Street Garage. This system will automatically open gates for vehicles with a valid permit linked to their license plate, making entry and exit faster and more convenient.
Additionally, Welcome Center Garages were re-configured over the summer to increase the availability of parking permits for students, faculty, and staff. These parking garages are among the most popular garages on campus, and reconfiguring the parking garage will reduce waitlists and provide needed parking capacity.
Planning for these upgrades began in March, with weekly coordination meetings between Parking & Transportation and construction crews to ensure a smooth rollout. Summer was chosen as the ideal time for these projects due to lower campus traffic.
鈥淎long with winter and spring break, summer offers the best opportunity to minimize disruption to students, faculty, and staff while allowing contractors the space and flexibility needed to complete work efficiently and safely,鈥� Zagrzecki added.
With these improvements, Parking & Transportation is paving the way鈥攍iterally and figuratively鈥攆or a smoother, safer, and more efficient fall semester.