Parking Facts:

The Parking Services Division is a self-supporting, auxiliary service of Kent State University. Parking Services does not receive financial support from the University or the state of Ohio. Parking Services' operating budget is derived from income generated through student and employee permit sales, visitor parking fees, parking violation fines, and special event parking. Income is used for the operation of Parking Services, the maintenance and improvement of existing parking areas, and the construction of additional parking areas.

Parking Facilities

Parking Services contracts with an outside vendor to seal and stripe approximately 1/3 of the campus parking lots. A 3-year rotation schedule is followed, thus achieving continuous and consistent improvement. The maintenance crew continues to clean, crack-fill and stripe all parking lots that are not on the summer sealing list. Parking and Transit Services also contracts with Metro Security to provide security at the Dix stadium 24/7 during the school year. Parking and Transit Services is responsible for coordinating the snow removal from all main campus parking lots. The department is entering into the second year of a 3-year contract with an outside contractor for snow removal services. This contract provides the University with a more competitive price and greater flexibility in choosing the plow areas with each snow event.

Parking Permits

Responding to the varying needs for parking of students and staff, the department has developed a variety of permit options with different price points that address specific parking needs. In addition, continuous parking lot surveys are performed to assess lot capacity. If space is available, permits are offered for sale on a continuous basis throughout the year. This assures maximum use of the available parking spaces.

Finances and Debt Service

Approximately 9 years ago, Parking and Transit Services began an aggressive parking lot repair and expansion program. At this time most of the parking lots on campus were at least 15-20 years old, and were all beginning to deteriorate at the same time. In addition, there was a lack of central campus parking for students as the University continued to grow in enrollment numbers.

Over the past 9 years, Parking and Transit Services has added approximately 3000 new parking spaces throughout campus. In addition, approximately 45 parking areas with a combined total of 7000 spaces were milled, paved and resurfaced. This indicates that nearly 10,000 out of 12,000 parking spaces have seen some form of improvement during this 9-year span. Since 2003, Parking and Transit Services has paid over 8 million dollars in debt service for these parking lot additions and lot improvements. An additional non-capitalized 1.2 million dollars was spent for maintenance and repairs during this same time frame

Technology, Meters and Parking Innovations

The T2 Flex Parking Management System purchased in early fall 2009 has been successfully migrated. Ten new Casio ticket writing units interface with this software to improve the efficiency of writing parking tickets. A Pay-and-Display machine that accepts credit cards in addition to coin has been installed in the Schwartz Center Visitor lot, and pilot programs using proximity cards to control access to control access to gated parking lots and RFID Tags to control parking gates are being tested in select lots.

Marketing

Parking and Transit Services information is provided to the university community by utilizing advertising opportunities in the Daily Kent Stater, the e-Inside, TV-2, and Black Squirrel Radio. Pamphlets and a video highlighting parking on campus were developed for the parents and students attending the Destination Kent State program. A new parking map has been produced that promotes alternative transportation, and provides important information to the student, parent or visitor, and bus brochures highlighting two routes that are frequented by freshman residence hall students and commuters were created and distributed with the student’s parking permit.

Special Events

Parking and Transit Services is responsible for coordinating and managing parking and/or traffic flow for a number of campus events each year. Events range in size from large events such as football games or commencements, to small events like parking for a guest speaker. Parking and Transit Services works closely with other University departments and the surrounding community to provide orderly parking for these events.

Enforcement

The assignment and distribution of parking permits, along with related parking enforcement, are intended to maintain orderly parking for the entire university community. Parking and Transit Services strives to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the campus community. The combination of increased parking spaces on the central campus over the past few years along with the control of how permits are assigned, allocated and distributed have lead to a decrease in parking violations over the past 4 years. In addition, Parking and Transit Services has taken a more proactive approach to educating students and staff on parking rules and regulations through email messages and other forms of media.

In February, 2008, the department moved from using an outside contractor to tow vehicles to using immobilization devices (boots) installed on vehicles by the enforcement staff. Although vehicles are still towed under certain circumstances, the process of booting or immobilizing a vehicle is an enforcement technique that is easier and a less expensive alternative when compared to the cost of towing. In addition, booting a vehicle allows for timely in-house resolution of enforcement issues.

Statistics:

Student Enrollment: approximately 26,938

Faculty/Staff Employed: approximately 3500

Total Parking Spaces: approximately 11,500

Number of surface lots: 70

Total visitors parking spaces: approximately 800

Spaces allocated to students: approximately 7,000

Handicap Spaces: 228

2/4-hour metered spaces: 230

30-minute metered spaces: 86

Annual Operating Budget:

Approximately $4,000,000.00

Pay Controlled Lots:

Student Center Pay Lot: 418 Spaces

Pay and Display machines located in the following lots: Schwartz Center visitor’s lot, Ice Arena and Student Recreation & Wellness Center