To meet increased needs related to new garages and other existing lots, parking rates will increase approximately $2 per lot per month for most lots, beginning on July 1. A similar increase is anticipated in July 2017.
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Parking fees do not generate revenue for the medical center. Instead, the increase is necessary to cover such annual operating expenses as ongoing repairs and maintenance of lots. Fees also cover land purchases, snow removal, security and enforcement, equipment, lot improvements and administrative costs.
Rates remained unchanged for nine years until July 2011 when they increased by 8 percent. Since then, there has been a rate increase nearly every year, due, in large part, to land purchases and a new parking garage, as well as ongoing pothole repairs and restriping and resurfacing projects. Overall, Parking Services maintains more than 70 parking lots for its 10,461 paid parking customers, as well as patients.
During this same time, the campus has experienced tremendous growth. UNMC and Nebraska Medicine have seen patient volumes soar and construction impact nearly every corner of campus, all of which has strained parking for many, including patients.
“There are tremendous advantages to campus growth, but as growth impacts parking we understand how it creates stress for our patients, students and employees,” said Mike McGlade, chairman of the Transportation & Parking Committee. “Being located within several city blocks of densely packed and populated buildings, we are constantly working to keep up with parking demands.”
One solution was to launch TravelSmart, an active transportation program that provides cost-effective and free options for traveling to and from campus. To date, more than 930 people have signed up to carpool, take the bus, walk and/or bike to campus.
Even with TravelSmart, McGlade cautioned that traffic and parking issues aren’t going away.
As a result, the Transportation and Parking Committee will hold focus groups this summer to help guide future decisions. “As a committee we are asking ‘How do we satisfy ‘patient first’ parking needs while also doing what we can for our employees and students,'” McGlade said. “It’s not a simple task, and so we want to hear from others.”
In the past fiscal year, Nebraska Medicine has seen more patients: discharges were up 4 percent, and inpatient census and emergency department visits were each up 5 percent.
The spring 2017 opening of the new Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center will spark new hires in the areas of research, clinical service and support staff. To ease congestion on Emile Street, construction already has begun on a new entrance/exit ramp in Lot 50, which will provide motorists with the ability to avoid Emilie Street and gain direct access to Leavenworth Street and Saddle Creek Road. Completion is expected mid-August.
I can understand when you raise the price, every thing goes up………. but why do employee get to park for free in the blue parking garage/ or any garage… while I pay each and every month?????
There really should be an option to pay based on FTE. It doesn't seem right that part time employees pay as much as full time employees. Part time employees obviously use the parking less.
Nina LeGrande, the garages are not free parking for employees. You'll find that the lots listed in the above graphic include the garages as well, therefore employees of UNMC are also affected by this price hike. I'm equally displeased about a rise in parking rates, but parking services are not about to spare anyone from these new prices.
So I am kicked out of my parking lot for the second time in a year. I pay for a covered lot but you expect me to look for a spot for 10 min in an uncovered lot and if there isn't a spot, to drive to another lot that is uncovered and park there. On top of that, you are not reimbursing us for the extra we are paying while our lot is under construction, and now you're raising the rate while I'm not even parking there? Sounds great.