Understanding the Campus Parking Conundrum
Anyone who has ever driven on a university campus can tell you that one of the biggest challenges facing car owners is finding a place to park.
A recent survey showed that 60 percent of students say there are not enough places to park on campus. Even if there are parking lots or garages on or near campus, finding available parking in these lots can be a difficult task, doubling the time for commutes that should be 10 or 15 minutes.
As more students attend classes and more cars hit the roads, the need to address these pervasive parking issues increases with each coming year. Then, add in higher demand times for parking spaces – such as athletics events or finals week – and it all can seem too daunting.
The time to address campus parking is now.
Common Challenges For University Parking Departments
University parking departments face a gamut of challenges. The diversity in the campus population, with varying needs from students and faculty to visitors, adds complexity. Another significant challenge is managing the supply of parking in a way that allows for proximity parking relative to users’ destinations on campus.
These issues call for a strategic approach that considers the unique dynamics of university campuses while making parking quicker, easier, and safer for students, visitors, and faculty.
Step 1— Develop an Effective Parking Management Strategy
The first step to making sweeping changes to any parking system is to craft a comprehensive parking management strategy specific to your university parking needs.
You should assess the current parking situation on your campus, including analyzing current parking demand, occupancy rates, peak usage times, and any existing issues or constraints. It’s essential to confirm that your assets don’t meet your needs and that you have the money and infrastructure to invest in parking.
Identify the stakeholders and the goals of those using your parking assets. Engaging with stakeholders such as university administrators, faculty, students, local community members, and transportation experts will ensure you understand their perspectives and what they would want from a parking expansion.
The development of parking policies should reflect the strategy’s objectives, aiming to balance accessibility, sustainability, revenue generation, and user satisfaction. These policies could take many forms including setting pricing structures, permit regulations, enforcement measures, or incentives for alternative transportation modes.
Step 2— Implement the Right Technologies
Technology plays a pivotal role in streamlining parking operations. Implementing smart parking solutions like mobile apps for payment and reservations, license plate recognition systems, and real-time availability tracking can significantly enhance the user experience while helping your operations stay competitive in today’s parking market.
ParkHub offers many parking solutions that can be useful for your university when planning your parking investments. Digital payment and pass systems, as well as mobile point-of-sale solutions, allow you to collect revenue from your patrons quicker and easier, while Automated Yield Management (AYM) systems, CurbTrac, and ParkHub Pay all help you collect and manage data from sales and transactions.
These solutions not only simplify parking management but also address the specific challenges universities face while reducing the environmental impact by minimizing idle time and traffic congestion on campus.
Step 3— Make Improvements Based on Data and Community Input
An effective parking strategy is not static; it evolves based on data-driven insights and community feedback. You must be vigilant and continuously monitor the effectiveness of your parking strategy with data collection.
You can easily track parking occupancy rates, revenue generation, user feedback, and environmental impact using parking software. This data can be used to make future decisions to fine-tune your operations. ParkHub’s Business Intelligence tool offers valuable data analytics capabilities, enabling parking departments to make informed decisions and adjustments.
Maintain communication with all stakeholders involved in parking projects throughout the process. Feedback from students, faculty, and operators alike should be considered when making sweeping changes or updates to your campus-wide parking strategies.
Learn How ParkHub Can Help
Addressing the parking challenges on university campuses requires a holistic approach that combines strategic planning, technological innovation, and continuous improvement. ParkHub’s comprehensive suite of parking solutions is designed to meet the unique needs of universities, helping to streamline operations, enhance user experiences, and optimize parking assets.
By leveraging ParkHub’s expertise, universities can overcome the parking conundrum and create a more efficient and sustainable parking ecosystem. Book a free demo with ParkHub today and discover the difference the right parking management solutions can make.