Staff Council Forum
August 4, 2015
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (P&TS)
Introduction by the Director
Ruben Chavira
What initial observations or concerns is the new parking director able to share with the UTEP community?

Changes to the UTEP Campus (Parking)

Significant reduction of the inner campus parking due to the elimination of parking lots and street parking in the inner core.
 There were 319 of spots reduced

Cultural/mind set changes needed to adapt to the transformation. The is and will continue to be to move parking to the perimeter areasadding more parking garages on the perimeter of campus
 There are still a total of 8946 spaces available for sale.
 Look a providing transportation alternatives working with Sun Metro (Bus Routes) and the City of El Paso
(Bike Share Program)
 The need to provide technological solutions to the campus.
 Look for parking solutions for different areas on campus
Opportunities going forward:




Improved communications to campus- to enable customers to plan accordingly
•
Emails, Twitter, Facebook
•
Improved Website
Improved service to customers through internal process improvements
Improve services through better use of technology.
Data Driven Decision Making
Introduction by the Director
Ruben Chavira
Process for the approval of Parking: Fee Changes
1. Analysis is Performed by the Parking office and the Office for the Vice President for Business
Affairs (VPBA)- a Proposal for a Fee increase is sent the Parking Committee.
2. The Parking Committee reviews the recommendation and then votes to recommend or deny the
proposed increase. If the proposal is approved it is sent to the President’s Office
3. The President will approve, deny or modify the recommendation If the President approves the
proposal, it goes to UT Systems.
4. UT Systems will approve, deny or modify the recommendation.
P&TS Financial Overview: Carla Hurtado- Ruben
Chavira
Examples of the Departments Finances for one year:
◦ Revenues
◦ Expenses
Parking and Transportation Revenues
Parking and Transportation Services
2014-15 Revenues
Parking and Transportation Service
Boots Other
2%
0%
Comparison of Revenues and
Expenses 2014-15
Revenues
Permit Revenue
Amount
3,000,000
70%
Citation Fines
300,000
7%
Visitor Parking
900,000
21%
Boots
20,000
0%
Other
79,300
2%
4,299,300
100.0%
Total Revenue
$
$
Visitor
Parking
21%
% of
Total
Citation
Fines
7%
Permit
Revenue
70%
EXPENSES
Parking and Transportation Services
2014-15 Expenses
Parking and Transportation Service
Expenses
Debt Retirement
Amount
$
Shuttle Service
Wages and Fringe
Benefits
Other Operating Costs
Total Expenses
$
% of
Total
1,846,330
43%
1,425,000
33%
659,400
15%
368,570
9%
4,299,300 100%
Other
Operating
Costs
9%
Wages and
Fringe
Benefits
15%
Shuttle
Service
33%
Debt
Retirement
43%
QUESTIONS
1. What is the process for pro-rating the cost of permits?
ANSWER:
◦
AUGUST 16TH TO NOVEMBER 30TH FULL PRICE
◦
DECEMBER 1ST TO FEBRUARY 28TH 75% OF FULL PRICE
◦
MARCH 1ST TO MAY 31ST 50% OF FULL PRICE
◦
JUNE 1ST TO AUGUST 15TH 25% OF FULL PRICE
2. Why do employees pay the same price to park at University Towers as they would on the
Inner Campus?
ANSWER:
•University Towers parking is gated parking and is located right next to the building. This is the same
criteria for the personnel that purchase the Inner Campus (IC) Orange permits.
Operational initiativesBetzy Zapata-Mike Salazar
◦ Lot Utilization counts
◦ Management of Lots- Over Sell Rates
◦ Enforcement Zones for Community Service Guards (CSGs)
◦ Use of New Technology to improve services
◦ Maintenance of Parking Assets- Equipment, Parking Lots, Signage
◦ Rotation of the Physical repair schedule for lots
◦ Event Management- Move all events to PG1
◦ Motorcycle Parking
◦ Customer Service Initiatives
QUESTIONS
• What is being done to address the lack of open spaces in Parking lots throughout the day? Relocate
motorcycle parking
• What is being done to ensure that there is proper enforcement of the visitor (metered or pay by space)
parking lots.
• What is being done to address safety concern in the Parking Garages? i.e. excessive speeds, cars parking in
fire lanes UTEP PD
• What is being done to address the patrons not paying for Parking in the Sun bowl Garage?
• What plans are in place to provide much needed maintenance to parking lots across campus Imped these
into the annual budget, as tight as it is.
• What is being done to address the lack of Signs in some Parking Lots on Campus?
• What technological improvements are being made to improve Parking services on campus GPS, auto vue,
expanded use of access gates
• What is being done to address students parking in premium spaces?
• What control mechanism are in place to secure premium parking spaces on campus?
Improved Parking Lot sales inventory through
the use of Lot Utilization and inventory Counts
• Use of Lot Utilization counts and Occupancy Levels to ensure that the correct calculation are conducted for
the sales of specific Parking lots on campus. Utilization counts provide valuable insight to the parking
department and provide the tools for managing parking spaces more effectively.
•
Lessens the likely hood of excessive oversell and will increases the likelihood of spaces being available for
all patrons because parking permits are sold to reach the forecasted occupancy levels with a calculated
oversell rate. While at the same time optimize the ability to maximize revenue generation by the Parking
Department
Added Benefit from the use of this Management tool:
• The Ability to monitor parking lot usage at various times of the day to understand peak times.
• Documentation and Data to support the deployment of optimum parking lot usage strategies
• Conduct Parking Space Counts: Parking spaces are counted on a regular schedule. Counts are verified
by the department for consistency with permit sales forecasts.
Enforcement Zones for
Community Service Guards (GSGs)
Tracking of Parking Lot Utilization on a regular basis has provided the Parking Management team with the
capability of strategically deploying the GSGs to specific areas of the campus.
• Data on traffic pattern and historical issuance of citations is allowing for the more efficient use of
human capital to enforce parking lot regulation.
• CSGs are assigned strategic Zones on campus, this places them in the positon to react to the changing
needs of the campus.
The goal is to ensure that University Faculty, Staff and Students that pay for a parking spot…have a spot
when they arrive on campus…elimination of individuals improperly parking (not respecting posted rules)
Use of new Technology to improve service and
enforcement.
• Purchase of a New Pay by Space system “ Luke II,” for the visitor’s section in the Sun Bowl parking
garage (Fall of 2015) , and at the Mike Loya Academic service building visitor area (Fall of 2016).
Customers will pay for their parking when arriving…instead of at departure.
• System will eliminate the need for gates in the Sun bowl Parking Garage
• System will enable Community Service Guards to accurately and efficiently enforce payment for
space with the system-(System at Mike Loya Parking Lot is the model….)
• Numbering system will be established for the parking spots in the Sun Bowl Garage, entrance and
exit gate arms will be removed.
(Show Video)
• Purchase of the AutoVu enforcement tracking system. Truck mounted license plate reading equipment
that will quickly identify vehicles that improperly parked. System will be deployed in the Fall of 2015
and will increase the enforcement capability on campus.
Rotation of the Physical repair
schedule for lots
• A comprehensive schedule of all Parking Lots has been created in conjunction with Lot inventories to
identify needed physical repairs. List will maximize the use of available funds vs. the repair needs of the
each lot. Repair are prioritized based on safety concerns, lot volumes and lot visibilities
• Repairs can defined as the following:
• Asphalt repair or re-surface
• Lot striping
• Sign repair or replacement
• Close work will be done with Facility Service to manage repair projects and control project cost.
• Creation of a preventive maintenance for regular examination of parking assets, should be regularly
examined for any signs of structural or aesthetic concerns, and should receive immediate attention when
potential issues are identified.
QUESTIONS
• What is being done to address the events taking away parking spaces.
• Why can a motorcycle take up an entire space? Are there any other areas on campus to
place them?
• Why are there not rules for bicycle riders and skateboard riders on campus? I have
seen a couple of near miss situations?
• What is being done to improve the customer service in the parking offices?
Event Management
To balance the needs of the University to Service the Surrounding community and to respect the rights of the our
customers the following has been put into place.
• Special event parking for events has being moved to the Sun Bowl and Schuster garages.
• There will be very limited inner campus cone off spaces.
• These blocked spaces will be for VIP or elderly that cannot walk long distances.
• If due to the nature of the event a parking lot is closed due to maintenance or special event, a notification of
such event is communicated to the campus via; campus bulletin, a post on the Parking Facebook and Twitter
page.
• Customers that will be displaced for any reason will be provide with an alternative parking lot for those
parking permit holders well in advance of the event.
• Concerted effort will be made to change the mind set of organizations conducting events on campus….parking
right next to a building for an event, might not be an option.
Motorcycle Parking-Golf Carts,
Bicycles and skateboard riders
•
A policy modification for Motorcycles on campus was approved by the President in the Spring
(2015). Beginning in the Fall Semester all motorcycle on the inner campus of the University will
be required to park in designated motorcycle parking spots.
•
Designated motorcycle parking will be strategically located to serve all areas of the inner campus.
This will enable the Parking Department to utilize areas that will not accommodate a regular
vehicle and to open up spaces (occupied by motorcycles) for larger vehicles thus creating more
space.
•
A committee is currently working on a campus policy for the use of Gold Carts, Bicycle and
skateboard ridership.
Customer Service Initiatives
to ensure service consistency of office operations
• Weekly focused training sessions targeting the areas identified as needing improvement from
customer satisfaction surveys for all staff members.
• Targeted training efforts focusing on customer service skills to include:
• Phone etiquette
• In person customer service
• Online customer service.
• Troubleshooting skills and processes to resolve issues
• Targeted training on the use of Software systems utilized by Parking and Transportation
• Training on the Parking Rules and Regulations for all staff members.
• Incrementing of staff to assist with the high volume of in person and on the phone customers.
Customer Service Initiatives
to ensure service consistency of office operations
◦ Improved communications to the campus community
◦ Updates and enhancement to the Parking and Transportation website in order to provide
more convenient services and more in depth information about our parking services.
◦ Creation of Video communications promoting the different options customers have on our
website. This video will be playing during rush week.
◦ Social Media is being used more to inform our customers if their lot is closed due to a
maintenance or special event, and giving them options as to where to park.
◦ Management and inspection of the services provided to the camps to include; Monthly secret
shoppers riding the Miner Metro in order to ensure they are providing good customer service
to our riders.
◦ Customer Service Guards (CSGs) patrol the garages and parking lots to provide assistance to
customers and to ensure that patrons are respecting the established assigned parking areas
through targeted consistent enforcement. CSG can be dispatched to any location on campus to
assist customers or to deal with blatant infractions of parking regulations.