A requirement of the new parking plan was a complete repark of everyone on campus. To do this, and as advertised, we are starting the year by selling one permit per parking space and will backfill into each parking zone as spaces are available. This will maximize the efficiency of each parking zone, especially when compared to starting each year in an oversale scenario, which is our biggest annual complaint and during the first weeks of school, the biggest contributor to traffic congestion.
Next week, my team will start looking at numbers in each zone and immediately start utilizing the waiting list to add people into zones where we see room. For areas with a higher percentage of commuter vehicles, we will wait until the first few weeks of school to add people as we need to see how often parking spaces turn over and become available throughout the day. We will continually be monitoring lot capacity and utilizing our waiting list, so please add yourself to your desired waiting list if you do not receive your zone of choice.
Our transportation system is built around various modes of transportation. Parking permits are available for those who want to drive to campus, we have significantly improved our bike and pedestrian system over the last ten years, and Starkville MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) is an award-winning transit system that provides several connecting routes to the core of campus. For those who are unable to purchase their zone of choice, I encourage you to explore SMART as it serves various residential and parking-and-ride areas in the city.
In addition to the above, we are also introducing a Park-and-Ride lot at the Mississippi Horse Park, where you can park for free from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and have direct shuttle access to Montgomery Hall.
Thanks for your patience with us as we implement our new parking system. While you might not have your permit of choice today, we fully expect that thru the waiting list process, each person will be in an acceptable zone early in the semester.
Jeremiah