University of Virginia Library

University Opens New Lot, Considers
Various Proposals For Parking Problems

By MARK SCHAPIRO

With Charlottesville rapidly
acquiring the disadvantages of
a big city, the University is
struggling to meet increasing
traffic and parking problems
on the Grounds.

In an attempt to alleviate
the growing tie-up, the
University Committee on
Traffic Control this summer
devised a plan for paid parking
on University property which
is tentatively scheduled to go
into effect after first semester.

Improvements Hoped

The new plan calls for
immediate improvements in parking
facilities on the Grounds, following
guidelines recommended in
December by professional
consultants and adopted by a Board
of Visitors resolution on June 4.

Kimley-Horn Associates, of
Raleigh, N.C., was retained in
December by the University to
analyze the parking problem. The
consultants base their findings on
results of a University-wide survey
which it took last year.

The survey showed that there
were 5,831 parking spaces to meet
the 7,200 car demand. The survey
noted that 45 per cent of the
faculty and staff and 52 per cent of
the students favored establishing
parking fees to defray the cost of
nearby parking development. Of
the faculty, staff and students
polled, 94.9 per cent preferred
parking on the central Grounds,
highlighting the need for increased
parking facilities.

The firm recommended
adoption of a plan which would
enable 98 per cent of the
University's medical and
non-medical faculty and staff to
park within five minutes walking
distance of their place of
employment. Student residents
would be able also would be
within five minutes distance from
class while 80 per cent of the
commuting students would be
within five to 20 minutes walking
distance.

High Cost Of Parking

The cost of the necessary
improvements would total about $1
million in capital investments to
cover the cost of construction for
the new spaces.

In their report, the consultants
recommended that each resident
and employee be required to pay up
to $75 per year for parking permits.
The revenue collected would be

used to cover the additional parking
costs.

The enabling resolution adopted
by the Board of Visitors approved
the institution of a parking fee at
the University which would not
exceed $15 per month. However,
when institution of the proposal
was postponed, it was decided that
faculty and staff members would be
charged $1 for parking stickers, the
same fee as has applied to students
in recent years.

The pay parking proposal was
postponed in late July, at least until
after first semester. Among the
factors which caused the delay were
time commitments made in
dormitory rental contracts and the
difficulty faced in developing a
University-wide busing system by
mid-September.

According to the traffic
committee, the fall semester will
allow time to publicize the
proposed development, in order
that the University community may
offer constructive suggestions
before the final parking plan is
established.

More Bicycles

The committee decided to urge
wider use of bicycles to listen
traffic congestion and agreed to
establish more bicycle facilities.

While no changes have been
made in the designation of
faculty-staff and student parking
areas, a new lot was opened during
the summer between the
architecture building and Lambeth
Field and 200 new spaces for cars
are being constructed in the Scott
Stadium area.

Besides the faculty staff parking
fee, other changes in University
parking regulations include a new
ticket form which will be used in
citing parking violators. City and
county tickets also will be used in
various areas, with the fines being
collected by the University police
force.

While new regulations have
approved the establishment of
parking meters various locations
on the Grounds, the meters
apparently will not be installed for
the time being. However, certain
parking fines have been increased,
in particular tho for failure to
register a vehicle, which was raised
from $10 to $15, and a new fine of
$20 for operating a vehicle by
students without driving privileged.

In addition, a county ordinance
provides for towing vehicles parked
in violation of University
regulations. Officials at the
University's Department of
Security claimed, however, that
towing, at the owner's expense, will
be executed only in extreme cases.

According to Mr. Gregg, the
University Committee on Traffic
Control is working on a parking
meter plan to provide parking for
visitors. It will at or
the 15 minute
parking spaces.

Installation or three
hundred met occur
this school year of them
in the Hospital hough a
limited number of are being
proposed at the north end of
McCormick Road, Mr. Gregg stated
that 'no meters will be located in
the historic area of McCormick,
from the north en of the West
Range to corner.

'This should the
hope, he said, McCormick
Road on the
someday be
automobiles.