Returning commuters and upperclassmen who keep a car on campus probably already noticed a jump in their back-to-school cost, namely the $20 increase in the parking permit. Costs rose from the previous $80 to $100 for the year.
What is the extra cost for?
Parking services was unsure of any new building projects as far as new lots are concerned; however, they felt that the price hike is likely due to the increase in maintenance costs for upkeep on existing lots. This would include the patching and resurfacing of lots when needed, as well as repainting the lines and repairing, replacing, or installing fixtures like the sign posts that designate the different lots.
The chief of public safety, who is on the planning committee, was unavailable for comment.
A jump of $20 may seem surprising to most students, but, if you compare it to other local colleges, it is still lower pricing than most. The $100 bill comes in at $3.56 lower than the cheapest parking permit for students at Ohio State, with the highest being $771.24. And, while it matches the price for commuting students at Otterbein, it’s $40 lower than the cost of Otterbein’s residential student permit. Even with the increase in cost, the price is still very competitive compared to these schools.
With no new lots and an increase in the number of students needing parking passes, you may ask what is a student to do?
During Welcome Weekend, one specific piece of advice was repeatedly given by both orientation leaders and commuter assistants: Schedule classes early in the morning.
While the majority of the student body will groan at the idea of an 8 or 9 a.m. class, this will usually guarantee you a parking spot as the lots are often full by the time 10 a.m. classes start. Another suggestion offered during commuter meetings was to carpool with students close to you if they have a similar schedule.
Instead of leaving campus between classes and risking the loss of your parking spot, take advantage of campus meeting areas like the lobby outside of One Main Cafe or the Mezz on the third floor of the Student Union. Not only will you get to keep your parking space, but it can also give you the opportunity to meet some fellow commuters or even your commuter assistant.
You can apply for a parking permit by going to the Capital website, selecting current students, student services, and then locating the parking permit link under online services on the right-hand side of the page. In addition to your campus login and contact information, you will want to have the information about your car available, including the license plate number and your payment information.
Once your permit is ready, you will be notified by parking services and can pick up the permit by stopping by the Public Safety office located at the end of Mound Plaza. You can also request guest passes at no cost for day or overnight visitors to campus.
Some additional resources for commuting students include the commuter newsletter sent out by the commuter office, the residential life office twitter (@CapReslife), and the Facebook page for residential life. Commuter related posts and tweets are tagged with #capcommuter.
