Campus parking allocation process set for evaluation

After nearly a decade of problems surrounding student parking,
and six years since the last student survey concerning parking
allocation, UCLA Transportation Services plans to re-evaluate the
current parking allocation system and hopes to offer students a new
and more equitable system for parking-pass distribution.

Renee Fortier, director of UCLA Transportation Services, said
their goal is to make parking allotment fairer for all
students.

“We have a good opportunity to modify and improve our
current system. We’re really excited about the effort.
We’re going to look at the whole thing; a more comprehensive
effort with a lot of input from the students,” Fortier
said.

While Transportation Services will be changing the manner in
which spots are allocated, the current division of spaces between
undergraduates, graduate students and faculty and staff will remain
the same.

After recently being approached by the dean of students to
re-evaluate the parking system, Transportation Services decided to
engage an outside consultant to reassess the current
organization.

“We want everyone to have a full voice, and getting
outside help will make it so people can be more forthcoming with
their opinions,” Fortier said.

The current parking situation works predominately on a
point-based system. Each applicant is issued a point total
according to the information provided on his or her application
concerning commuter distance, class standing and employment, among
other criteria.

Students who apply in groups as a carpool are guaranteed parking
as long as they meet the qualifications.

Despite having the lowest number of students on the waiting list
in years, Fortier and Assistant Director Brian d’Autremont
agree that now is a good time for change.

“It’s going to be intense. This is a really good
time to take a good look at the system,” d’Autremont
said.

One of the most pressing issues with the current parking system,
from Transportation Services’ perspective, is the problem of
unsubstantiated applications. Annually, 12 to 15 percent of the
total number of applicants request parking based upon false claims
of jobs or responsibilities off campus.

Some alternatives that have been considered include those
employed by other university campuses, such as the “first
come, first serve” program. Fortier and d’Autremont
both believe this would be messy and time-consuming for students,
as it would likely do away with the application and students would
have to wait in line for spots.

Other options being considered include a lottery-based selection
process.

However, Fortier said that this time, the decision will not be
completely up to Transportation Services. Starting sometime fall
quarter, focus groups will be formed, composed of groups of
undergraduate, graduate and professional school students who will
offer their opinions on the current parking system and their
preferences for improved future parking allotment.

The information gathered will then be taken to the
Transportation Services Advisory Board, and a student survey will
be produced to be administered during the middle of winter quarter
2006.

Fidan Nasser-Gani, a fourth-year political science and history
student, was enthusiastic about a change in the current system.

“More parking spots would be best, but a good system would
be to give all applicants permits and let them find the
parking,” Gani said.

Fortier said Transportation Services is very open-minded and
interested in what would best serve the students.

“We want to know what the students feel is important. We
want to listen to our customers,” d’Autremont said.