Transit and Parking Utilizing Survey, Discussions

In recent months the Transit and Parking Department at the University of Arkansas has focused on having a productive dialogue with the people they serve.

The efforts have included meeting with student government, having student focus group discussions, making an online survey available, stepping up the efforts on social media, and working with students from Industrial Engineering on two class projects.

Gary Smith, director of Transit and Parking, said it is all a part of an effort to create positive connections and to get helpful feedback.

"We want to increase the opportunities we have to reach out to students and employees at the university," he said, "to listen to what they say, to consider changes where appropriate, and to improve our communication."

According to David Wilson, communications director for Transit and Parking, the department understands that it can be difficult when a person is running late, fighting traffic, and hunting for a good parking place.

"We know that traffic frustrations are not a good way to start a day," he said. "But we want to provide all the support we can to alleviate any problems. We want to emphasize safety, provide good customer service, and support people as they go about their business on campus."

Wilson said that no matter where you go, individuals tend to complain about parking, especially where there is a dense population of people, such as at major universities.

"But that doesn't mean that there is no room for improvement," he said. "And it doesn't mean that we shouldn't be listening to people who have a complaint."

He said that's why the department has utilized student discussions and the online survey.

With the information generated, changes can be considered.

The focus group discussions and the early survey returns have indicated that a number of people favor having more parking lots, more parking garages, and more bus routes, but some of those items come with an expensive price tag and must be implemented over the course of several years.

Smith has shared some financial figures with the student government and elsewhere: constructing a new parking lot costs more than $6,000 for each parking place; constructing a new parking garage costs more than $23,000 per parking spot. In both instances, the figure does not include the cost of the land.

That means that new parking for thousands of vehicles quickly becomes a multi-million-dollar endeavor.  And because Transit and Parking is self-sufficient — with much of its revenue coming from parking permits and fines — much of the cost for new parking lots or garages would be passed on to motorists on campus.

The university has more than 27,000 students and 4,500 employees, but not all of them drive, and for those who do, not all come to campus at the same time.

The university has 13,600 places to park on campus.

Smith said that number is adequate, but not ideal.

"When someone says there isn't enough parking at the university," he said, "what they are really saying is that there isn't enough parking for everyone to park right in front of their class. We know that with 13,600 parking places that it takes care of everyone's parking needs but not everyone's parking wants."

During the focus group meetings the department learned that most students make whatever adjustments are necessary so they can be on time no matter where they go on campus.

For some it is simply a matter of building a cushion in to their commute.

For others it means parking a great distance away and coming to the central part of campus on a Razorback Transit bus.

Smith said the current system is adequate but that they are glad to consider ways to improve.

"Every day," he said, "we help thousands and thousands of people get where they need to be on campus. But we want to hear what people say to help us decide what adjustments might be needed for the future."

After Transit and Parking analyzes what they are hearing from students and employees, they will share more results with the university community.