University Of Utah Student Starts Parking Petition

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A University of Utah student has started an online petition calling for more student parking and more spaces closer to campus.

That petition has been gaining signatures as other students voiced concerns over parking problems.

“Parking on campus is a mess,” said student Lydia Salmond, who signed the petition. “I’ve been late countless times because I’ve spent 30-to-40 minutes looking for parking.”

“I don’t think there is enough parking,” said Camille Christensen, who was the first one to sign the petition. “They are taking out existing parking that isn’t already enough for students they do have and building more housing to bring more students.”

Shaykayla Smith said she started the petition for parking changes, including fees, after she got a ticket because she couldn’t find parking after driving around for 45 minutes.

“There has to be some action and we can make the change, us students, rather than just complaining about it,” Smith said. “I pay tuition to come here and if I can’t get to class, what did I pay for?”

University officials said there are currently 6,100 student parking spaces. That number is higher than it has been during the last five years and shows an increase of 644 spaces from last year.

Still, that may not seem like a lot of spots for a student body of 32,000.

But Alma Allred, director of commuter services, said you can’t look at it that way.

“It’s more like a movie theater you are going to have showings throughout the day and people will come and go all day long,” he said. “You are not going to have all the parking you want no matter where you go.”

Allred admitted student parking is being pushed to the outskirts of campus. But he said that’s part of life at a growing university.

“There aren’t many places where you can build,” Allred said. “Should we take out this landscaping or should we build on this ugly asphalt parking lot? That’s what’s going to happen.”

Allred said a parking garage cost about $24,000 per space. “You are not going to find cheap plentiful parking,” he said. “Nobody can afford that.”

Students said their other concern is safety because of how far they have to walk.

But university officials said that’s why they implemented three options for students – courtesy police escorts, a new rideshare program and campus shuttles.