Ongoing construction might be the most visibly noticeable change to parking at Eastern Michigan University, but prices have been affected this semester as well.
In effort to address increased congestion and parking challenges on campus, the Parking Department has adjusted a number of items that will influence drivers across-the-board.
The biggest change, in the opinion of department manager Dionne Hammes, is the free parking option.
Students, faculty and staff can park at the Rynearson park-and-ride lot, across from the Rynearson Stadium (on Hewitt Road), and catch a shuttle bus to the main campus free of charge. The new Route 34 West Campus Shuttle will operate every 20 minutes Monday – Thursday from 7:20 a.m. to 10:20 p.m. (last trip leaves campus at 10:10 p.m.) and on Friday from 7:20 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. (last trip leaves campus at 6:10 p.m.)
Stops will be made at Bowen Field House, Halle Library and the Towers residence hall complex. Overnight parking is not permitted, and the service is exclusive to fall and winter semesters.
“We’re hoping this will make a big difference for people, especially cost-wise,” Hammes said.
The free shuttle service is expected to alleviate overcrowded lots while balancing the rise in hang-tag costs.
Commuter and resident tags are up $25 more than last year at $100/fall and winter semester.
Spring and summer semesters will cost half as much. Staff and faculty (unless designated by contract) will pay $144/year. Cornell and Westview apartments residents will pay $65/year.
Brown and Munson residents will pay $130/year and have a resident-only lot (previously used by the Children’s Institute).
“There hasn’t been an increase in six years, so it had to be done,” Hammes said.
Hang tags for commuter, residence hall and apartment students can be ordered online at http://www.emich.edu/parking and will be ready for pick-up the following business day after 4 p.m.. They will be picked up at the police service window in the Public Safety building (1200 Oakwood), and students are required to bring a photo ID.
They might also be purchased at the Parking Department located in the Public Safety Building from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Any vehicle parked in a designated lot on or after Sept. 13, 2011, without a valid hang tag on the rear view mirror will be ticketed. Citation fees have been changed this fall and are available for viewing online.
Besides hang-tag prices, EMU students mostly seem to be discussing the availability of the Bowen Field House lot. As of this fall, the Bowen lot will be a paid/staff lot and the Oakwood lot will be a commuter/staff lot.
Sophomore Katie Shelton is concerned.
“This whole thing seems confusing,” she said. “I was finally getting used to where I can rely
on parking, and now they’re changing everything. I don’t know who it’s supposed to benefit, but I doubt it’s for the students.”
But the construction of the Bowen lot will provide vast improvement according to Dave Jaworski, coordinator of construction projects.
“The original lot was completely demolished and is currently being reconstructed, not only to improve elements of parking but also to improve the pedestrian traffic and the campus storm water management system,” he said.
Jaworski said because of its location, the new design will act as a “hub for pedestrians walking from all directions.” The lot will be available to park on by Friday, Aug. 26, while the project will be finished in mid-September.
Around the same time, every employee booth where drivers used to pay for parking will be replaced with fully automated pay-in-lane devices. They now will accept credit or debit in addition to cash payments.
“Once completed, the users of the lot will be able to enter the lot by obtaining a ticket from the automated dispenser and pay upon exiting at a pay device located on the island at the exit,” Jaworski said.
The lots near Alexander, Bowen, McKenny, Pease Auditorium and the Student Center will all be updated. Starting this fall, paid lots will cost $1/hour or any fraction thereof, with a maximum of $8 within a 24-hour period.
“These are going to make paying for parking a lot easier,” Hammes said. “Everyone always asked us why we didn’t accept credit or debit. Well, now we can.”
EMU also has teamed with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (better known as TheRide) for a 30 percent discount on 30-day unlimited-ride bus passes. Students, staff and faculty can purchase a pass for $40 instead of $58 and ride an unlimited amount of times anywhere in the AATA range for those 30 days.
Passes are available at the Parking Department in the Public Safety building or the Cashier’s Office (201 Pierce Hall). An EMU student or employee ID is necessary for purchase and each use.
For more information on modifications to the university’s parking system, visit http://www.emich.edu/parking/ or call 734-487-3450.
