Parking to go up $8 monthly

For the first time in six years, the cost to park at UCCS will increase.

Effective July 1, there will be increases in all permit types used by faculty, staff and students as well as visitors. For a faculty or staff member who buys an annual HUB permit, the cost to park will be $50 monthly, an $8.33 per month or 20 percent increase from prices in place since 2006.

The department will continue to offer options such as Friday-only, Lot N, specific day permits for students and one-, two- and three-day permits for honoraria faculty as well as discounted rates for motorcycles. Rates for all permits will increase by 20 percent. Free parking near Four Diamonds with shuttles to main campus will remain.

“I am proud that we were able to keep parking prices the same for so long,” said Jim Spice, executive director, Parking and Transportation Services. “We were trying to be sensitive to the fact that the economy was struggling and folks weren’t receiving salary increases over the past several years. However, with continued enrollment growth and an increase in lot operation and maintenance costs, we must increase parking fees.”

By state law, neither student tuition nor state general fund monies can be used for parking. Instead, fees charged to those who park on campus support the cost of construction, maintenance and operation of the lots and campus shuttles.

Under construction is a new, $23 million 1,227 space garage. A 440-space lot opened last year near Four Diamonds and additional shuttle buses were purchased as the campus accommodated students, faculty and staff who previously parked in a church parking lot in the Cragmor neighborhood. Cragmor residents are working with the city of Colorado Springs to further restrict street parking in the neighborhood.

“For those who do not want to, or cannot afford to purchase a hub permit, parking at the Four Diamonds will remain a free and convenient alternative,” Spice said. “The shuttles to main campus operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and average stops are between five and 15 minutes. Other options include walking, biking, or using the city of Colorado Springs bus service or carpooling.”