Carpool Parking Proposal

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History

In 1991, UH Hilo had a campus wide committee that evaluated parking on campus and made recommendations that were ultimately adopted by the UH Board of Regents and implemented in 1992. This established the current system of Zone parking and General parking, and the current cost for parking permits and fines for citations.

As part of a continuing evaluation/improvement process, new areas for parking were opened up. Grass lots were paved with drainage and night lights. Handicap stalls were created by K-Hall/Business Ed, and shifted to more convenient requested locations, along with other minor adjustments. 

In 2004 a formal Parking Task force was formed (as approved by the Chancellor) to evaluate campus parking procedures. This task force had members representing students, faculty, staff, community, Athletics, construction, housing and administration from both UHH and Hawaii CC. 16 recommendations were submitted of which 13 were adopted. As the changes fit within the frame work of the original 1992 parking policy, no formal BOR action was required.

1n 2007 a 2nd Parking Task force was formed (again approved by the Chancellor) to evaluate campus parking procedures and prepare/adjust for the several new buildings that will be constructed on the Main Campus. This task force had members representing students, faculty, staff, community, Athletics, and administration from both UHH and Hawaii CC. 10 recommendations were submitted and all approved for implementation with major items summarized below. As the changes still fit within the frame work of the original 1992 parking policy, no formal BOR action was required.

  1. The new Science and Technology building will be located in the current Life Sciences and Beaumont parking lots (a net loss estimated of 72 stalls). A new replacement parking lot is being constructed up Lanikaula Street, and will get a “G” general designation (enough stalls to replace the lost 72+ all the new stalls required for the new S&T bldg, with an additional 40 stalls extra) General “G” parking in the Old Gym area will be converted to Zone “4” parking as an adjustment to loosing the Zone 5 & 6 parking for this construction.
  2. The new Student Services Center building will be located in the current OSS parking lot (a net loss of 29 stalls). New replacement parking stall will be added in the Theater parking lot corner and the metal shed will be relocated (net gain of 100 stalls to cover the 29 + new stalls required to this new building with overflow into the new Lanikaula lot).
  3. As required by law, new construction of government facilities must follow LEEDs guidelines (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). This requires the inclusion of a carpool parking component in the campus parking policy (save gas when 2 or more people ride in one vehicle). The new Student Life Center is our first campus building with this designation, and construction is almost done. Based upon our campus size, a minimum of 16 carpool stalls are needed.

The carpooling concept is great. Environmentally we use less gas when 2 or more ride in one car. Traffic is reduced and there’s more parking available. But carpooling can be inconvenient, so the goal is offer incentives while still trying to treat everyone fairly.

Incentive options evaluated included:

  • Free or discounted costs. The task force did not make this recommendation, and felt it was best to treat each vehicle the same (one pays, then all pay).
  • Desirable locations. The task force did make the recommendation establish reserved stalls in desirable locations around campus.

Process options evaluated included:

  • Should you “enroll” in a carpool program to qualify for parking in carpool stalls? The task force did not make this recommendation, feeling someone could enroll and yet the vehicle could still only have one occupant (thus not saving gas, or reducing traffic, and parking).
  • Daily verification for multiple occupants. The task force did make this recommendation. Vehicles will stop at a guard shack and get a Carpool pass for the day if they have 2 or more occupants.

The next step was to identify desirable locations around the campus. Officials from the Parking Office walked the campus with the Security Supervisor to discuss options. 

Obviously the handicap stalls on campus are in convenient, close locations (many physically disabled people need to minimize walking distances), but did we have the right amount in each desired location? Campus Security reported the following:

Location Handicap Stalls Regularly used For Conversion
Athletics 6 3 3
UCB 3 3 0
Campus Center 6 5 1
Theater front 6 1 3
Music PB8 2 1 1
Bookstore behind 4 2 2
Bus Ed/K Hall 6 6 0
College Hall 2 1 1
Life Science 3 2 1
Total 38 24 12

Where ever there is only one handicap stall, it will remain, even if no regular use.  Access aisles and conversion of regular stalls will make up the balance of the 4 more needed stalls.

General analysis items

1. Can existing handicap stalls be converted? 

Yes, the guideline provide two ways to calculate the minimum number of handicap stalls required, a) consider each lot individually, or b) consider all campus parking as one large parking area—UH Hilo’s approach. Instead of having 7 handicap stalls in remote lot behind the Theater, UH Hilo built the K-Hall/Bus Ed lot and put them where people needed them. We have 56 handicap stalls on campus, but we only need 27 for compliance.

2. Seems the conversion of little used handicap stalls during class operations has little to no resistance, but what happens during special events at the Theater, Athletics, when more handicap stalls are generally used?

Like other campus parking permit requirements, car pool daily passes will be in effect from 6AM till 4PM on class days. Most major events occur on weekends and evenings, and car pool stalls could be reconverted to handicap stalls for special events. The only contention is whether the existing access aisles will be converted to parking stalls or remain as access aisles.

Contact

For any questions or concerns, contact Kolin Kettleson at 974-7369 or e-mail kolin@hawaii.edu

Thank you.

Kolin Kettleson

UH Hilo Auxiliary Services.