Posted: 4/9/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Patrick Traylor The parking lot at Sixth and Healey streets in Champaign has a new pay system.

When students describe the parking situation on campus, and their assertions may reflect some version of Jonathan Niemerg's frustrated response, it's a pain.

"Spots are never available," said Niemerg, sophomore in LAS, who has given up parking on campus. "I have a car, but I just walk everywhere."

There are 15,000 parking spaces available to the 50,000 people on campus each day, according to the University of Illinois Parking Department Web site. The spaces are found in five parking structures and 123 surface parking lots on campus, a reduction from the 147 spots that were once in use.

Parking in the University Lot J on the corner of Sixth and Green streets had been free since 2006, but Champaign public works staff recently installed a new pay station.

It now costs 75 cents to park for the first two hours, and $1.50 for each subsequent hour.

"I'd be happy with increasing the number of spots," said Niemerg. "More meters and more permit parking."

Tom Skaggs, University parking and traffic coordinator, said that the rates on University meters have not been raised in 10 years.

"In the past six years our system has added two new parking decks to assist with parking needs," Skaggs said in an e-mail.

"In addition, the Master Plan provides for added facilities, especially around the campus perimeter where shuttle services can assist with commuters and people moving on campus."

Surface parking on campus has decreased during the last two years, however, because of the influx of new academic buildings.

There are not many places to site a new building other than on old parking lots, Skaggs said.

While students and University workers may gripe, there may be some advantages to the area overall.

The city's policy is good for campus and city parking because it rewards short-term parkers and increases parking turnover, said At-Large Champaign City Council member Tom Bruno.

"But you can't just suggest that to people," Bruno said. "You have to charge them for it to work."

Bruno said that increased parking is something that everyone in the city wishes for.

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