Parking and the problems that follow the issue at West Virginia University have tormented students, faculty and staff much like a bad dream this academic year.
arking debates began early this year. During the Aug. 29 Morgantown City Council meeting, Bob Roberts, director for transportation and public safety, spoke to council members concerning the efforts the University was taking toward alleviating parking problems. One of the efforts discussed included a proposed Willey Street parking garage.
Several council members were so discouraged with University efforts that the parking authority sent a letter to the University stating that if the University didn’t do something to alleviate parking problems, the city would step in with its own plans.
Tom Bloom, a former council member, said at the Aug. 29 meeting, “I’m really disappointed with the University — parking was considered the last step. You are getting more and more buildings down there and not enough parking.”
Negotiations for the parking garage moved forward in September when WVU officials contacted the Morgantown Parking Authority to set up a meeting. The meeting was to discuss prices and funding for the garage.
University students were also hard pressed for University officials to take action on the parking problems.
University officials answered such concerns with a proposed parking plan.
The Master Plan for West Virginia University created in 1996 states that the University plans on building more short-term and long-term lots in the next three years. Because parking in Morgantown is an auxiliary funded unit, which means it doesn’t get any money from the state or student fees, the city depends on parking tickets, meters and permits.
The 900-person waiting list for Downtown and Evansdale campuses caused parking officials to propose a plan to rid the list.
Roberts said that raising the rates is the only way to generate the revenue needed to build new parking lots.
Joe Fisher, assistant vice president for facilities and services, confirmed Roberts’ comment in a Jan. 11 Daily Athenaeum article. Fisher said that local environmentalists were unhappy with the current rates because they were low and thought the low rates encouraged more people to drive.
“We are now at a break-even point where our revenue just covers our expenses every year, so our intent is to start raising parking rates this year so we can build up our parking fund so that in 2003 we can do the construction we need to do,” Fisher said.
Fisher added that between 2003 and 2004 parking officials would spend $6 million in repairs for the Mountainlair parking garage. Parking funds will pay for most of the repairs, but WVU Student Affairs will distribute money for the top level of the ’Lair.
Another highlight of the plan included a “stacking” policy that would eliminate the current problems of students parking illegally. Students presently are penalized with one $10 parking ticket, but the new system would allow for students to receive more than one parking ticket throughout the day.
Parking officials presented the proposed plan to students, faculty, among others in the months following.
Faculty Senate members were presented with a PowerPoint presentation at their Jan. 8 meeting. Fisher told the Senate members that current construction costs are $2,500 for each paved space. Fisher added that approximately 3,000 more parking spaces would be available, along with the 5,500 spaces that are already available to faculty, staff and students.
At BOG’s Jan. 17 meeting, Fisher and Roberts discussed the proposed plan with members to receive feedback. Several BOG members were in opposition of the plan.
Former BOG member Wilmore Washington said, “I don’t think it’s going to work out. I think they’re pulling our leg. The only way parking will work is to not allow freshmen to bring cars.”
Former BOG member Terrence Stuart pointed out that the freshman class is increasing every year and that with the projected 3,035 spaces that will be built the plan “will never have an impact” on WVU’s campus and the current parking problem.
Roberts told the members that legally University officials are not allowed to stop freshman from bringing cars to WVU.
The plan also proposed working with the city for an alternate transportation system. The MountainLine Transit Authority, Fisher said, was one possible option for the University.
President David Hardesty was supposed to either reject or accept the proposed plan Jan. 23. The need for more research and feedback, however, delayed the meeting between officials from Fisher’s office and Hardesty. Fisher had hoped for the plan’s approval by Feb. 1.
“We need to do some more development first,” Fisher said. “We’re just not ready to have this plan by then.”
Fisher added for a Jan. 24 DA article that to advance the plan, he and his staff would present the current feedback to WVU’s Institutional Advancement. He also said he would present the proposed plan to more focus groups.
At the March 13 Faculty Senate meeting, after the increased rates for faculty, staff and students had already been implemented, the concern for a graduated fee or prorated structure with permits was mentioned by several Senate members. Senators questioned staff paying the same amount for permits as faculty and administration.
Sam Nadler, professor of mathematics, questioned a staff member who earns $15,000 a year paying the same parking rate as a faculty member.
Fisher told Senate members that a refund on the rates was not possible for this year since rates had already been implemented. Fisher added that graduated rates are not used in other institutions. 
Roberts said for a basic paved parking spot the rates went from $84 to $120. For a gravel parking spot rates raised from between $54 and $64 to $84.
The construction of Wise Library further complicated the parking problem on campus when seven parking spots on Prospect Street were fenced in April 9.
Turner Construction will use the space in front of Clark Hall to create an unloading zone to convenience the continued library construction.
The spots are mandated to the construction company until Dec. 31, 2001.
A day later the honors section of Journalism 89, the ethics seminar, held a panel discussion in 205 Martin Hall. The panel talked about the positive and negative aspects of parking in Morgantown.
On hand for the panel were Morgantown Parking Authority Executive Director Tom Arnold, Roberts, WVU parking official Jim Enoch, Nadler and Student Government Association President Chris Ferro.
Ferro said he agreed with the proposed “stacking” policy that the University might implement. He added that all students should have the opportunity to park, not just the ones that abuse the parking spaces.
Roberts said the “stacking” policy would probably be implemented by Fall 2001.
Another suggestion for improving parking was punishing habitual violators. Roberts suggested a student who receives their first ticket might pay $2, but a third offender might pay $10.
Nadler offered another idea. He recommended the University student paying the ticket the first time, but on the second time after paying the ticket doing some sort of community service as well.
Nadler also was interested in a prorated structure for parking permits. This system would allow University staff who make under $20,000 the chance to pay less than faculty and administration, who have higher salaries.
Roberts said his office has looked into a rate structure. He added that he is waiting for the salary figures from Institutional Advancement. Roberts said he believes the salary figures will be coming in this week. The prorated structure would comprise varying salary brackets.
The panel also discussed building a parking garages instead of parking lots.
Roberts and Enoch both confirmed that a high rise space would cost $15,000 a space, while a parking lot space would only cost $2,500. Enoch added that a high rise space would take 70 years to pay off, including interest.
Arnold said the Morgantown Parking Authority was more interested in multilevel facilities, specifically ones on Willey Street and in the Wharf District.
Arnold said that currently the parking authority is working out the details for property on the corner of Willey Street and University Avenue for a joint effort between WVU and the city for a parking garage. Arnold added that the garage would have public access, but it would probably be mostly utilized by University students.
“Construction for the garage will probably begin a year from now,” Arnold said.
Roberts confirmed that a joint effort was in the works and said he was working on a lease from the University for Areas 1 and 4. He added that through discussions the garage will probably have 500 to 700 spaces. The spaces would probably have short-term parking, Roberts added.
Roberts said an alternate transportation system might be available through MountainLine Transit Authority for Fall.
Discussions for the proposed plan will occur during the summer, Roberts said. He said when students return in the fall parking officials will share the plan.
“Hopefully, when students return we’ll be able to share the plan and work it through student government,” Roberts said.