Despite rumors and fears of parking fees being raised spring semester, they will not be raised in the near future. The second structure has not changed the current $63 fee, and students will only see an increase if a rise in student population requires a third parking structure to be built.

According to Nancy Fox, manager of University Transportation and Parking Services, there has only been loose discussion of proposing a third parking structure.

“Nothing has been officially set or approved,” Fox added.

The tentative construction date for the third parking structure, which ideally would have 1,800 spaces, is Fall 2004. If this structure is approved, parking fees will be raised to fund the project. According to Fox, the fees for faculty and students would go up approximately $10 per month. For students, this is an increase from the current $63 per semester to approximately $100 per semester. The increase in fees would be based on the cost of the building of the structure, which has not been officially assessed, said Ronald Grant, ex-officio member of the Transportation Advisory Committee.

Currently, the revenue earned from parking permits is put into a parking fund that pays for the maintenance of the lots and includes lot patrol. With the increase of parking fees, the additional revenue would go toward the construction of the third parking structure, maintenance and patrol of the new structure.

In order for the fees to increase, the third parking structure will have to be approved by the Transportation Advisory Committee and the President?s Office. If the structure is approved, fees will not increase until approximately one year before construction begins. This means that fees may not be raised until Fall 2003 or Spring 2004.

Senior Veronica Dobson agrees that a third parking structure would be cost beneficial for the college and students.

“If this is the bare minimum to improve parking, I agree with the proposal, however, I think that the university should look for better options to fund the parking situation rather than raising permit fees,” Dobson said.

The university was able to fund the construction of a second parking structure without raising parking fees. Construction of this structure is scheduled to begin Summer 2001 and will have 1,000 to 1,100 spaces. Funding for this structure was borrowed and will be paid back over the course of 20 to 30 years. The funding to repay the loan will come from the money flow into the university treasury. However, the treasury flow cannot cover the cost of the third parking structure, therefore, parking fees will have to be raised, Grant said.Senior Mariela Ramirez said she would not be happy about the increase in fees.

“It would be nice to have another parking structure, but I would not want to pay the extra money for it,” Ramirez said.