Parking and Transportation UPPS No. 05.07.02
Issue No. 2
Effective Date: 07/12/2004
Review: January 1 E3Y
01. POLICY STATEMENTS
01.01 Texas Education
Code 54.511.
This
UPPS establishes the policies and procedures not specifically covered in the
annual University Traffic, Parking and Safety Regulations.
Other
information that deals with parking policy is found in UPPS No.
05.07.01, Collecting Parking Violation Fees; the annual University Parking,
Traffic, and Safety regulations; and the parking website (www.parking.txstate.edu).
01.02 Texas
State University-San Marcos recognizes that access to the facilities and
services on campus is essential to realizing our educational goals. Therefore,
as an institution, we aspire to:
a. Provide
adequate, reasonably convenient and safe parking for all employees, students
and visitors to the extent that the beauty and environment of Texas State will
not be adversely affected;
b. Maintain an
effective and efficient shuttle bus system to bring commuters from remote areas
to central campus;
c. Assure that
the parking and shuttle bus systems are self-supporting;
d. Develop,
through the representative Transportation and Parking Committee, clear and
equitable transportation, traffic, and parking policies;
e. Enforce those
policies equitably; and
f. Cooperate
with the City of San Marcos on matters of common concern.
02. GENERAL PROVISIONS
02.01 Parking
Services is responsible for issuing parking permits, enforcing University
parking rules, collecting permit and violation fees, and managing parking in
university parking areas.
02.02 The
University will not honor departmental or self-made parking permits.
02.03 All
employees and students who park a vehicle on University property, except the
LBJ Student Center Garage, are required to complete a vehicle registration
card, and purchase the appropriate parking permit.
02.04 Permits
must be displayed anytime a vehicle is parked in a permit parking area. Annual
permits are valid for one full academic year (August 15 through August 15).
02.05 University
parking regulations are enforced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
03. PERMIT ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS
03.01 Faculty
(full and part-time regular) with the job code of Lecturer or higher are
eligible for a Red Restricted permit.
03.02 Staff
(regular or temporary) employed .5 FTE or more as indicated on an RBC or other
official university payroll document are eligible for a Red Restricted permit.
03.03 The ASG
President and Vice President and others as approved by the Transportation and
Parking Committee or the University President are eligible for a Red Restricted
permit.
03.04 Residence
Hall students, as verified by the Residence Life Office, are eligible for a
Residential Hall permit or Commuter permit.
03.05 Students
living in University-owned apartments, as verified by the Residence Life
Office, are eligible for an Apartment permit. The Apartment permit is only
valid for the specific apartment complex in which the student lives.
03.06 Graduate teaching,
instructional, and research assistants, staff (regular & temporary)
employed less than .5 FTE, commuting students, and any community member who
uses a Texas State facility are eligible for a Purple Commuter permit.
03.07 Parking
lot signage indicates which permitted vehicles can park in the lots and the
times at which these permitted vehicles may park.
04. PERMIT FEES
04.01 The
current fees associated with various permits are described in the University
Traffic, Parking and Safety Regulations.
04.02 Refunds on returned or unclaimed, unused self-adhering permits during the same semester the permit was issued are as follows:
Long Semesters
By the 12th class day 100%
After 12th class day 0%
Summer Terms
By the 4th class day 100%
After 4th class day 0%
05. VISITOR
AND GUEST PARKING PROCEDURES
05.01 Visitors
to Texas State are defined as persons who are temporarily on campus and not
associated with the University as faculty or staff, degree or non-degree
seeking students, Continuing Education employees, or Continuing Education
students. Persons on campus for the sole purpose of using University facilities
such as the Alkek Library, Campus Recreation, parks, and athletic fields must
purchase a commuter permit. Faculty, staff and students are not considered
visitors to the campus.
05.02 Visitor parking is available as follows:
a. at the LBJ
Student Center Garage and metered spaces throughout campus for a fee,
b. Officially
designated visitor spaces do not require a fee. However, a temporary permit available
from Parking Services must be displayed on vehicles parked in these spaces.
05.03 Hosts of official University guests must request guest permits from Parking Services at least 2 business days in advance.
06.
SPECIAL EVENT PARKING
PROCEDURES
06.01 General
Information
a. Parking
Services, as provided in this UPPS, will work to accommodate requests for
special event parking. The academic calendar will affect the ability to
accommodate special event parking. Student and faculty demand diminishes during
summer school terms and between semesters, making the accommodation of
large-group or event parking in permit areas more likely. Most often, lots will
be able to "absorb" visitor and guest vehicles. Smaller requests (up
to 10 vehicles) may not require special arrangements (e.g., overtime officers,
coning or barricading spaces).
b. University
departments planning to host or authorize any event must contact Parking
Services concerning parking availability prior to scheduling the event.
c. If parking
cannot be arranged for an event without seriously impacting the course of
regular parking, traffic, and shuttle bus services, Parking Services may seek
approval from an appropriate vice president before the event can be scheduled.
d. Persons
attending events in or near the LBJ Student Center must park in the LBJ Student
Center Garage. Special arrangements and fees may be considered by the manager
of the LBJ Student Center Garage.
e. From 5:00 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Sunday evenings, visitors and guests are not ticketed for "No Permit" violations. However, the request for special parking arrangements or to reserve a parking area as described in the subsequent section is still required for proper coordination of events.
06.02 Authority
to Approve or Deny Special Event Parking
a. The
Director of the University Police Department (UPD) or Supervisor of the Parking
Services Office have the sole authority to approve or deny the use of any
permit parking lot, facility, or street parking location for any special event
or function unless appealed to the vice president. No person or department may
schedule or direct the use of a permit parking area.
b. No Parking
Services or UPD resources will be committed to assist in any special event
parking or functions scheduled without first obtaining authorization from
Parking Services.
06.03 Scheduling
of Parking Facilities
a. All
requests for special event parking in excess of 10 vehicles must be made on the
"Special Event Parking" request form at least 2 weeks in advance of
the event (see Attachment
I).
b. For small
groups (e. g., of 10 vehicles or fewer) e-mail or hard-copy requests are
acceptable. Requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance and
addressed to the Manager of Parking Services. The request must include the
date, time, and a description of the event or the reason for the request,
number of expected attendees, and the type of vehicles (cars, vans or busses).
The Manager of the Parking Services Office, or his or her designee, will
contact the requester within 48 hours of receipt to identify what parking
facilities may be available or to offer alternative suggestions to accommodate
the request.
06.04 Scheduling
Priorities
a. Large
events may result in an excessive number of vehicles parking on campus and have
the potential to impact the normal academic functions of the University. It is
of particular importance to coordinate all parking needs for large groups with
Parking Services prior to scheduling an event. Requests must be made at least 2
weeks in advance and always prior to the dissemination of parking information.
b. First priority are the parking needs of students, faculty, and staff. Every effort will be made to accommodate special event parking, in such a manner as to seriously not impact the normal function and activity of the University's academic schedule.
c. Second
priority will be given to university and department-sponsored events. Such events
include, but are not limited to: 1) athletic events; 2) theatre and Fine Arts
performances and exhibits; 3) departmental-sponsored lectures; conferences or
committee meetings; and 4) events of university-recognized organizations.
d. Third
priority will be given to non-university sponsored events. Offices responsible
for scheduling facilities such as Evans Auditorium, UPACC, Music Building,
Theatre Center, the Glade Theatre and others, must initiate the event parking
request and should follow the same procedures and timelines required for
university-related events. Texas State hosts, offices, or departments should
not advise non-Texas State persons to contact Parking Services independently to
arrange special parking needs.
e. Only under
extraordinary circumstances, confirmed by the Director of Residence Life, will
residential parking spaces be reserved for special events or programs.
06.05 Special
Events Parking Costs and Payment Procedure
a. Many special
events parking arrangements can be coordinated without an additional fee or
overtime services. When necessary, the Manager of Parking Services will inform
the requester of the potential fees and expenses involved upon receiving the
request.
b. The Texas
State account number to which Parking Services will charge fees and overtime
expenses must be indicated on the request and an authorized signature is
required.
c. For
services provided to a non-Texas State affiliated person or organization, fees
and expenses must be pre-paid 1 week prior to the event.
07. TYPES OF TEMPORARY PERMITS
07.01 The following types of temporary permits are available from Parking Services:
a. One-Day
Temporary - Valid until 9:00 a.m. the following day. For use by all Texas
State employees and students who bring a vehicle to campus other than the
vehicle(s) already registered at Parking Services. A maximum of 3 one-day
temporary permits may be obtained in any regular semester or between May 30 and
August 1 of each year.
b. Weekly
Temporary - Can be purchased for up to 8 weeks for use on a vehicle other
than the one registered with Parking Services. These permits are for
individuals with vehicles under long-term repair conditions or for persons with
short-term assignments on campus.
c. Loading
Zone - Valid while stopped in designated loading zone areas for purposes of
loading or unloading heavy or bulky items.
d. 30-Minute
- For use by persons who must conduct short-term business at JCK. The
time-stamped permit may be obtained at the JCK Parking and Information Booth
and exempts the vehicle from color zone restrictions for 30 minutes.
e. Service
Delivery - For individuals who are required to perform job duties
throughout campus. The service delivery permit is valid for 2 hours in signed
service delivery spaces, 20 minutes in signed loading zones, and exempts the
vehicle from color zone restrictions.
f. Temporary Mobility Impaired - As defined in Section 08.01 b.
08.
DISABLED PERSON PARKING
PROCEDURES
08.01 Disabled Permits. Disability means any temporary or permanent impairment restricting an individual's mobility.
a. Mobility
Impaired - Only persons displaying a state issued disabled person license
plate or hanging tag can use the designated disabled parking spaces. Mobility
impaired Texas State employees and students must also have a Texas State
parking permit.
b. Temporary Mobility Impaired - All Texas State employees and students who have temporary mobility impairment may obtain a temporary "All-Zone" permit with written notification from the Student Health Center or a personal physician indicating the disability and its anticipated duration. The expected period of time must be included and may not exceed 60 days. Vehicles displaying this permit are exempt from color zone classifications, but may not be used in official disabled parking spaces.
09. CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS AND STAFF
09.01 Continuing
Education permits must be purchased through Parking Services and distributed
through the Continuing Education department.
09.02 Faculty
and staff of Continuing Education classes are subject to the same provisions
for regular faculty and staff.
10. ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES
10.01 Parking
Services enforces the University parking rules and regulations and is authorized
to issue parking tickets, install vehicle boots, or impound vehicles for
violation.
10.02 Parking
violations and fines for parking violations are described in the University
Traffic, Parking and Safety Regulations.
10.03 Individuals
with unpaid fines will be prohibited from registering for classes, obtaining
transcripts or purchasing a Texas State parking permit.
10.04 Chronic
Offender Policy – Any person who has parked a vehicle or vehicles on university
property that has been issued 5 or more tickets within a continuous 12-month
period, regardless of whether the tickets are paid or on appeal, will be
considered a chronic offender of the university’s parking rules. Chronic offenders may continue to park legally
on campus, however, when a vehicle which has been assigned to a chronic
offender is found illegally parked, it is subject to 1) immediate impound and
2) a $150 chronic offender fee.
Student
chronic offenders who are issued 10 or more tickets within a continuous
12-month period will be referred to Student Justice. Violators may be put on probation and be subject to community
service or other disciplinary action.
If under 21 years of age, a letter will be sent to the student’s
parent(s) or legal guardian. The
supervisor of a staff or faculty member designated as a chronic offender, and
who has been issued 10 or more tickets within a continuous 12-month period,
will be notified of the employee’s violations.
The staff or faculty member may be subject to disciplinary action
through the vice president of their division.
Texas State students, faculty and staff, visitors, guests and any
non-Texas State affiliate are subject to the chronic offender provisions and
the suspension is not affected by either a temporary or permanent change in
one’s position or status with the University.
10.05 Parking
tickets may be appealed to the Parking Services Office or to the Traffic
Appeals Committee. Fines may be canceled or reduced by either the Parking Services
Office or the Traffic Appeals Committee if enforcement action was not in
accordance to University traffic and parking regulations, or if extenuating
circumstances warrant such action.
10.06 Suspensions
of parking privileges must be appealed to the
Transportation and Parking Committee.
11. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
11.01 Any
service provided by the Parking Services Office beyond its normal daily
operations may be charged (as defined in Attachment
I) to the Texas State host, office or department sponsoring the event or
requesting the additional coverage. Parking Services reserves the right to
determine events that require additional staffing.
12. SHUTTLEBUS
12.01 The TxTram shuttlebus system is operated for all Texas State students. The system is designed to help alleviate parking and traffic congestion on campus. The system transports students from the remote parking areas and concentrated student population areas in the city to the central campus, as well as providing a means of cross-campus travel.
12.02 Authority
of the Board of Regents
a. The Board
of Regents of the Texas State University System is authorized to charge each
student enrolled at Texas State a fee to finance bus service for students
attending the University. (Texas Education Code 54.511).
b. The Board may not increase the bus fee more than once in an academic year for the purpose of covering increased operating costs of the bus service. Any increase in the bus fee must be approved by a majority vote of those students participating in a general election called for that purpose.
12.03 Students
pay the bus fee at registration. Faculty and staff may use the system, but are required
to purchase a bus pass each semester from Auxiliary Services.
12.04 The
system is in full operation on all scheduled class and final exam dates during
the fall and spring semesters. Limited campus bus service is available during
the summer semesters. The bus fleet is air-conditioned and meets federal ADA
standards.
12.05 Routes
and schedules may be adjusted by Auxiliary Services at the beginning of each
semester based on the level of demand on the system. Routes and schedules are
subject to change without notice. Current route and schedule information is
available at selected display cases around the campus, LBJ Student Center
information desk, Auxiliary Services Office or may be viewed on the
University's web page under Bus (http://www.aux-srvcs.txstate.edu/tram.htm)
12.06 Periodic
analysis and assessment of the system occurs through demographic analysis;
ridership analysis; and student surveys. The information is used to make major
route and schedule modifications along with input from Associated Student
Government and the Transportation and Parking Committee.
12.07 Responsibility
for the shuttlebus system is assigned to the Vice President for Finance and Support
Services. The system is operated as an auxiliary enterprise under the
supervision of the Director of Auxiliary Services. Bus service is provided by
contract.
13. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS
13.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date
Mr. Stephen Prentice January
1 E3Y
Supervisor, Parking Services
Mr. Brad McAllister, Assistant Director January 1 E3Y
Auxiliary Services
Dr. Michael L. Abbott January
1 E3Y
Mr. William Peeler, Co-Chairs
Transportation and Parking Committee
Members, Transportation and January 1 E3Y
Parking Committee
14. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT
This
UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official
capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of
this document until superseded.
Mr.
Stephen Prentice, Supervisor, Parking Services; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Mr.
Ralph Meyer, Director, University Police Department
Dr.
Joanne H. Smith, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr.
James D. Studer, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr.
Denise M. Trauth, President