Parking and Transportation Services. Annual Report: Fiscal Year

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1 Parking and Transportation Services Annual Report: Fiscal Year

2 Director's Message A Message from Don Thornton Dear University of Kentucky Parking Customer, The fiscal year was one filled with changes for Parking and Transportation Services (PTS). From the adoption of technological innovations to improvements upon existing resources, PTS remained focused on how best to meet the needs of the University community. Technology is ever-changing, and, in the fiscal year, PTS embraced new technology in many different capacities. The department expanded its online sales options to include more permit choices, as well as tickets for the Ride Home Express program. Using the existing parking management database, PTS staff automated front office communications and added electronic notifications for outstanding citations. The CATS buses went high-tech during the fiscal year, with the addition of automatic passenger counters and global positioning system-based tracking technology. The bus tracking technology, dubbed Cat Tracker, is accessible via the web, through various smart phone applications and by utilizing QR codes and SMS information found on campus bus stop signs. Cat Tracker not only assists passengers in locating the next bus and planning their commutes, but also aids PTS in better understanding the transit needs of campus. To further track the efficiency and timeliness of the bus routes, PTS upgraded the security cameras at the Commonwealth Stadium Blue Lot bus shelter. The past year s technological advances were not limited to the transportation side of the department. PTS introduced a new enhanced permit for reserved parkers. This permit is equipped with Automatic Vehicle Identification technology, allowing vehicles to be identified automatically with no need for drivers to stop and roll down windows. This system was designed to give parking operators a fast and highly reliable access control solution, which decreases access times and can be read up to 15 feet. Finally, and perhaps most noticeably on the technology front, our staff contracted with a local firm to re-design the PTS web site, making it more user-friendly and tailoring information to suit three distinct user groups. The new site uses a content management system, making updates more efficient. PTS staff members continually monitor the condition of the CATS bus fleet, replacing buses when necessary. In fiscal year , two buses were replaced with new buses featuring longer-lasting motors and low floors, making them easily accessible. With each year, PTS also evaluates the condition of parking areas around campus. In , the MLK North E lot (also known as the UK HealthCare Good Samaritan E Lot) was renovated to improve its appearance and functionality. Recognizing the need for more dedicated alternative transportation resources, PTS, together with other campus departments, formed the Bicycle Advisory Committee during the fiscal year. This committee will oversee funding decisions for bicycle infrastructure improvements, as well as other bicycle initiatives focused on training, assisting, enhancing, and increasing bicycle usage at the University. The University of Kentucky also received an Honorable Mention as a Bicycle Friendly University by the League of American Bicyclists. This year was the first that the group had a university class in their annual awards. University of Kentucky Parking and Transportation Services has certainly grown over the years. PTS was once a part of the Police Department, and had just one bus; when that bus broke down, the department had to rent a bus from the Red Cross. What was once a department comprised mostly of part-time and student employees has grown to one that is nationally recognized and respected, as evidenced by being the recipient of the

3 International Parking Institute Parking Organization of the Year award. However, rather than rest on our achievements, it is necessary to continually search for ways in which to improve our customers experience. To that end, in 2011, PTS co-hosted the Mid-South Transportation and Parking Association Conference, which brought over 150 industry professionals together to discuss the latest trends in parking and transportation around the country. On a personal note, I concluded my tenure as Director of Parking and Transportation Services on June 30, It is exciting to reflect upon how much has changed in the department, on campus and in the industry during my 26 years at the helm. I hope that more positive changes lie ahead for PTS. Sincerely, Donald A. Thornton Director, Parking & Transportation Services University of Kentucky 3

4 Departmental Scope Mission The mission of Parking & Transportation Services is to promote safe and reasonable access to Campus for all University Employees, Students, and Guests. Responsibilities Manage campus parking supply: The University of Kentucky has 21,476 parking spaces on the Lexington campus. You will find more detailed space information in the parking statistics section of this report. Administer permit and revenue controlled parking programs: This task includes issuing employee and student parking permits as well as day passes for visitors. Additionally, the Department oversees visitor pay lots and parking meters on campus. Coordinate special event parking: The nature of the University requires that we accommodate special event parking. In fiscal year , Parking and Transportation Services scheduled parking for 1,761 events on campus. The sheer number of events highlights the need for close management of parking resources, ensuring reasonable availability of parking for all user groups. For more information, visit the Special Events page at Enforce parking regulations: Our enforcement efforts include both active and passive control. Passive control measures include permit control systems and parking gates, while active measures encompass our patrolling efforts. Propose parking and transportation policies and regulations: Periodically, the Parking and Transportation Committee reviews the Parking Regulations and recommends improvements. The Parking and Transportation Committee consists of faculty, staff, and students appointed by the University President. Operate C.A.T.S. bus system and administer LexTran Campus service: The C.A.T.S. bus system is staffed and operated by UK Transportation Services. This system provides over 750,000 rides per year to the campus community. LexTran service is managed and operated by the Lexington Transit Authority through a contract with the University of Kentucky; however, this service is administered through UK Transportation Services. Provide bus charter service for University use: Many University departments, athletic teams, alumni organizations and conferences require the need for special charter transportation throughout the year. For fiscal year , we provided 287 charters. Coordinate campus bicycle program: The Department has the responsibility to enforce bicycle parking regulations and maintain bicycle route signs and storage facilities. The University has approximately 2,800 bicycle parking spaces on campus. Operate Motorist Assistance Program: The Department has a commitment to the University community to assist motorists with automobile trouble. For details, visit to view our Motorist Assistance information page. 4

5 Financial Highlights As a service to our customers, we have provided information on both Departmental Revenue and Expenses. While Parking and Transportation Services generates revenue in several ways, the majority of our income has always been permit sales (52.1% last year). Many people have commented that we must make a lot of money from parking citations and impoundments, so much that we could build another parking structure; however, this has never been the case. The overriding objective of revenue generated through citations and impoundments is to match the cost of enforcement. It is our belief that violators, not permit holders, should be financially responsible for expenses related to enforcing the parking regulations. One of the other key financial statistics that shocks many individuals is the staggering cost that the Department pays each year for construction of new parking areas, maintenance of existing parking lots and debt financing of parking structures. For fiscal year , the Department paid over $3.1 million on such projects. With each new structure requiring nearly $1 million in debt service payments each year, it becomes easy to understand why our Department has not undertaken more parking structure construction. Another major expense each year is the campus shuttle system, which is funded from parking permit revenue. Through the combination of LexTran coaches and smaller CATS buses, this system encourages employees and students to park at remote parking areas and ride to campus via mass transit. By reducing the number of cars that enter the campus core, we are able to reduce congestion, allow more convenient parking for individuals with disabilities and visitors and reduce vehicle/pedestrian conflicts. We have attempted to be forthcoming with our financial data to provide a better understanding of the financial challenges that we face. Through basic analysis it is easy to see why the parking permit fees must be periodically increased. We must be forwardthinking and proactive when dealing with the increasing demand for campus parking and parking loss due to construction. 5

6 Parking Statistics Parking Allocation Each year Parking & Transportation Services receives numerous requests for information pertaining to the number of parking spaces on campus. Parking and Transportation Services manages all 21,476 parking spaces. The table and graph to the right only account for 20,601. The non-reported 875 spaces are comprised of motorcycle, official and service vehicle and loading zone spaces. Permit Allocation We get many questions that ask us if we oversell our parking areas. The simple answer to this question is yes. From an efficiency standpoint, ratios exist for each user group that will accurately replicate the number of permits that any given area can be oversold and still provide adequate parking to the user groups during any given day. Don't mistake this for permit holders who have numerous parking options. "E" permit holders, for instance, have a wide variety of parking options, even though the most convenient option may be unavailable, employee parking is available somewhere on campus. The one exception to overselling is residential permits. It is possible that all residential permit holders for a certain area could have their vehicles in a facility at the same time. As a result we only sell permits for the number of spaces in each particular area. Violators are usually to blame should a resident not find parking available in their designated lot. The tables at the bottom detail the number of each type of permit that were sold for fiscal year , as well as the number sold in the previous fiscal year. 6

7 Parking Citations Similar to our allocations, we also report the statistics associated with citations and impoundments. We do not wear these numbers as a badge of honor. On the contrary, our desire would be for all campus motor vehicle operators to be considerate to fellow parkers and follow the regulations. If we achieved this objective, enforcement would not be necessary. Unfortunately, we will never reach this aspiration. When parking is at such a premium, as it is at the University of Kentucky, people will attempt to take advantage of the system and each other, placing those who follow the regulations at a distinct disadvantage. 7

8 Permits Sold 8

9 Look Ahead I am honored and excited to have been selected as only the second Director of Parking and Transportation Services in the University s history. As IPI s 2010 Parking Organization of the Year, PTS has clearly established itself as an industry leader. The department has some tremendous people within its ranks and has accomplished remarkable things over the years. As you have read, the fiscal year was a very eventful one for PTS. I have high hopes that the current fiscal year will be just as productive, if not more so, as the department continues to adapt to best suit the needs of the campus community. One of my personal goals for the coming year is to re-write the existing regulations so that they are more customer-friendly, by clarifying language and removing any redundancies. In their current form, the regulations are over 20 pages long. Additionally, I am committed to reviewing our parking enforcement program and making strategic adjustments that will increase our communication efforts and ensure the same level of compliance while utilizing the least punitive enforcement methods. By streamlining the regulations, increasing our outreach and adjusting our enforcement procedures, PTS will show a commitment to improving the customer experience and increasing transparency. PTS has made great strides in its sustainability efforts over the past few years. In the coming year, I hope to expand those efforts even more by adding more options for electronic transactions, thus reducing paper waste, by carefully monitoring our vehicle fleet and by adopting new technologies where appropriate. Furthermore, PTS will continue to focus on transportation demand management and campus alternative transportation programs. I am thrilled about joining the PTS team and am looking forward to tackling the challenges and changes in store for the fiscal year. Lance Broeking Director, 2011-present Parking & Transportation Services University of Kentucky 9