Follow up to Ilab Report on Exceptions to Car Parking

Transport Policy Sub-Committee

26thFebruary 2008

Agenda item 7

TPSC/07/20

Follow-up to iLab Report on Exceptions to Car Parking

Priority groups identified as ‘exceptions’:

From the report it was apparent at the end of the iLab session that there were three categories that the group considered were substantial exceptions to current parking regulations, namely:

Residential University of Essex students on work placement because this is an integral part of their course; they are part of core business and it encourages widening participation and vocational courses;

External volunteers including speakers visiting the University because they are giving their time to the University for free;

Occasional users (such as regular cyclists/ bus users). These groups may only occasionally wish to use a car to travel into work, and so shouldn’t have to buy a full year’s parking permit – which could be seen as a penalty to their greener way of travelling.

The University has already committed to bringing in an ‘occasional users’ car parking permit category and at the last Transport Policy Sub-Committee it was agreed that those who sign up for the cycle2work scheme this year would not be able to register their car next academic year. It is proposed therefore that the priority category to address are the occasional users. Existing regulations and procedures will be adapted and formalised to accommodate the first two categories. The following outlines the case and proposed operations for the ‘occasional users’ category.

Occasional Users Car Parking Permit

Definition of ‘occasional users’:

Full time employees of the University would be expected to commute to the University by means other than driving a car for more than half the week, i.e. not less than 3 out of 5 days. Therefore, ‘occasional users’ would be permitted to use the car parks for up to two times per week. Part time employees, regardless of level of employment would be permitted to use the car parks no more than once per week. Such employees will qualify as ‘occasional users’.

University objectives for introducing ‘occasional users car parking permit’:

In line with the aims of the University’s Sustainable Transport Strategy, the introduction of an occasional users car parking category will encourage the use of alternative means of transport to the car, particularly single occupant vehicles;
During term-time, demand for car parking exceeds available spaces. A system that will reduce car parking demand during term-time will be of benefit to the University and those who do use the car parks;
The justification, regulations and operation of an additional car parking permit category for ‘occasional users’ needs to be clear and simple and complement the existing categories.

Context:

Current car parking charges for both staff and students comprise two elements, between an annual registration fee and ‘pay and display’ (P&D) charges of 5p an hour during term time. Assuming that the three terms are each ten weeks long, annual P&D charges throughout term time would be a maximum of £60 (30 weeks x 5 days x 40p) for both staff and students. Students pay £20 registration per annum and staff 0.15% of gross salary which equates to £24 for someone earning £16,000 p.a., £45 for £30,000 p.a. and £67.50 for £45,000 p.a.. Thus, in total, students can pay up to £80 and staff, depending on their salary level would pay £85, £105 and £127.50 as per the examples, as well as be entitled to park their car for free outside term time.

An occasional users category should provide incentive not to park and be priced so as not to appeal to full-time students. At the same time it must be attractive enough for car users to switch from the standard to occasional users category.

Proposed system

There should be no fee for registering for an ‘occasional user’ car parking permit. The permit, visibly different to existing ones, will entitle the holder to park their car at the University. The permit holder will be issued with a card for the P&D machines having a ceiling amount of money that can be entered on it. Currently, the only parameter used is the duration of the card.

The daily fee for occasional users parking should be set at £2. If the full time employed occasional user parked for 2 days a week per term, they would pay £120 (30 weeks x 2 days x £2). However, if they chose to come in 4 days a week by other means, they would make a saving of £60. Out of term time, the holder would be entitled to park their car for free as per standard permit holders. Part-time staff choosing to register for the occasional users permit would be entitled to park for 1 day a week per term, equating to £60 and be able to park for free outside term time. Thus the ceiling amounts on the full-time and part-time permit holders’ cards would be £120 and £60 respectively. Lost cards should incur a replacement charge of £10. Occasional users should be able to register only one vehicle.

The ‘occasional users’ category would come into effect next academic year 2008/9. Details of the system would need to be publicized at the same time that the cycle2work scheme is launched this Spring.

Monitoring

Whilst the P&D machines collect data on tickets issued, the time to go round to each machine individually to download the data is significant and has not been included in the remit of Patrol officers.

Currently, the University has data on permits issued but just a lump sum on pay and display. As the P&D machines become mains powered, a modem can be installed that can relay the data to a central point for analysis. At present, 5 machines are mains powered and a further 4 proposed for 2008/9.

It will be important to monitor the uptake and usage of the ‘occasional users’ permit, and in relation to the existing standard categories. In order to effectively manage car parking at the University’s Colchester campus, there is need for more information on the usage of the car parks by different categories of users. This data can be provided by installing the monitoring system with modems in the P&D machines.

Committee is requested to approve the proposal to implement an ‘occasional users’ category and the procedure proposed.

Jo Leyland

Transport Policy Coordinator