University of Idaho Parking and Transportation Services has installed 12 90-day trial SmartMeters, which accept both card and coins and have no time limit.
The SmartMeters are located in parking lot 53 on University Avenue, south of the Life Sciences South building, and also in parking lot 102, which includes the on-street parking on Blake Avenue near the Lionel Hampton School of Music.
Steven Devine | Argonaut
The University of Idaho has been conducting research to provide safer street crossings in high-flow areas of campus. One crossing is between the Student Union Building and the UI VandalStore on Deakin Avenue. One safety enhancement idea is a raised sidewalk, giving a visual aid to help drivers slow down.
“These meters are a lot more convenient for everyone, because it provides an easier payment method and currently there is no set time limit,” said Rebecca Couch, parking and transportation information specialist. “Since the meters are digital, we are able to track how much and how often it’s used, which is a much-needed improvement from the regular coin meters.”
Payment to park at the meters is required Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $1.50 per hour. For the trial meters, maximum parking time per individual in unlimited, however, if they are purchased, Couch said limitations on parking time will be adjusted to accommodate demand and how they decide to use them.
“Since they are digital and easy to track, online, we (PTS) can view the usage, how long customers are parking as well as the number and type of transactions,” Couch said.
Couch said if permanently installed, the SmartMeters would also be a sustainable addition to the UI campus, because it is solar powered and can recharge its batteries.
Nellie McGlashen, a UI senior who drives to campus and doesn’t have a parking pass, drives to campus two to three times a week. McGlashen said she would drive more if the meters were more convenient.
“I’ve gotten a couple parking tickets I wasn’t very happy about from running out of time on my meter,” McGlashen said. “I like the flexibility they provide, because if something comes up after class and I have to stay for some reason, I wouldn’t have to search to find change, then run back and forth to keep the time running.”
McGlashen said SmartMeters will most likely save a lot of people, herself included, from getting preventable tickets and forking over the money to pay them.
During the 90-day trial, Couch said Parking and Transportation will collect customer feedback to help them make the decision about buying them. Survey finishers get a 20 percent off coupon for the VandalStore if they complete the survey, which is on the PTS webpage.
Michelle Gregg can be reached at [email protected]
Zip cars to be relocated
An additional Parking and Transportation change made over the break was the relocation of the Zip Cars to the Silver Lot next to Wallace’s sand volleyball courts.
Along with the moving of the Zip Cars, a few parking spots on-campus have also been relocated. VandalStore parking has been shifted and all but two of the VandalStore spots have been changed to Red Parking pass holders. However, additional VandalStore parking can be found on the opposite side on the store next to the post office.
Parking and Transportation also changed some of the parking spots near the Kibbie Dome, requiring a gold parking pass to accommodate the coaches and athletic department personnel who come back at night to work at their offices.
