UP Implements Strategic Solutions to Alleviate Campus Parking Perils

by Aleksa Kruger and Jason Visser | Aug 5, 2024 | News

Parking on and around UP’s Hatfield campus, or rather the lack thereof, is responsible for more curse words leaving students’ lips than those of a sailor on a long sea voyage. The problem seems to be easily identifiable, and it is rather simple: too many cars, not enough parking. However, the solution to this issue is far more complicated than just “building more parking spaces”. There are various factors to consider, such as the lack of space to expand and restricted traffic flow.

 

But the days of aimlessly searching for parking may be nearing an end, or if not an end, then at least a respite, as the university is proactively planning to implement various parking solutions over the course of the next few months. PDBY spoke to Elmarie de Beer, a member of management from the Department of Security Services (DSS). She provided the following information on the issue.

 

De Beer indicated that in order to alleviate some of the pressures of the parking shortage, students can make use of the designated student parking areas that the university has to offer. They are located at these addresses: the corner of Burnett and Festival Street, the corner of Herold Street and Duxbury Road, as well as the corner of Herold Street and Lynnwood Road. These are enclosed areas that are patrolled by security guards from the security service provider for UP. To gain access to these areas, students must provide their student cards to the security guards. The Engineering 3 parkade, which accessible from University Road, is another option. Payments for the student parking lots can be made in cash or by means of a credit card at an automatic payment station. Students may also make use of the parking lots on campus itself from 16:30 on weekdays and for the whole day on weekends, unless they are told otherwise. Postgraduate students can obtain a parking disc so that they can park on campus from 13:30 daily.

 

There is also the bus service that UP set up to transport students to other campuses and residences. The timetables for the bus services are available on ClickUP. There is also a park-and-ride facility available at Hillcrest campus to alleviate parking pressure on Hatfield campus.    

In determining parking regulations, the DSS reviews various policies and procedures before approving them. These regulations are determined by factors such as the availability of parking, as well as business operations such as events and functions. Reserved parking bays are allocated according to the availability of undercover parking. A waiting list is managed by the Student Service Centre.

 

Most notably, the university consistently strives to optimise the use of its facilities and infrastructure. Recently, a decision was made to renovate the current Javett Art Centre basement area so that it can be used as an alternative parking area for approximately 200 students. This area will be managed similarly to the Engineering 3 parkade. The renovation will be put into motion later this year. This step should go a long way in assisting students that are in need of parking with access to a secure facility for their vehicles.

 

The persistent parking problems experienced by students on and around Hatfield campus are actively being addressed by the university through a series of strategic initiatives. While the shortage of adequate space and the complexities of traffic flow present significant challenges, the university’s proactive measures signal a potential alleviation of these issues. With designated parking areas, extended access hours, a reliable bus service, and the upcoming renovation of the Javett Art Centre basement for additional parking, the university is taking great effort to optimise parking facilities and improve accessibility for students. While it is not an immediate or complete fix, these initiatives represent a significant step forward in mitigating the parking problems and enhancing the students’ overall campus experience.

Aleksa Kruger
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Jason Visser
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