PTS to propose raising parking rates at next Regents meeting

Parking and Transportation Services, in collaboration with the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee, will submit a plan to increase parking rates across campus to the Board of Regents at its meeting Thursday afternoon.

Under the proposal, Economy passes would rise to $165 from $99, Resident Reserved would rise to $495 from $445 and Annual Garage would increase to $515 from $463.

“TPAC is not raising the rates,” TPAC director Robert Browand said in an email to the Cougar. “The rates are part of the long-term parking plan developed by PTS.”

Browand said the long-term parking plan addresses parking issues such as repairs, maintenance and improvements of campus parking lots and streets, funding for garage debt service costs, funding for increased operating expenses and improvement and expansion of services.

While Browand said TPAC hopes the Board will approve the proposal for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, he stressed that the increase in parking rates is not solely an advisement from TPAC; it is a long-term plan initiated by PTS.

“The increase is needed to address necessary repairs to our parking infrastructure and to support the operational needs of the department,” he said.

Other items on the agenda for the meeting include an update on ongoing UH Athletics facilities, approval for a College of the Arts department on campus and awarding the Bonner Leaders Program the Academic Excellence Award.

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