As parking lots start filling up again with the start of fall semester, take note of some parking and transportation changes.

First, the good news: Annual parking permit fees will not rise this academic year.

"Not taking the increase may impact us in the future, but we felt it was an appropriate time to not raise rates," said Tad McDowell, parking and transportation services director. He noted that increased tuition and fees for students and employee work furloughs were all considered when making this decision.

The parking department, however, must keep the books balanced by reducing maintenance costs. The department is scaling back as much as possible on the amount of parking lot striping and other related tasks.

UNLV's parking system is funded through permit, citation, and special event fees, and meter revenue -- all of which pay for the department's operating costs and debt service.

Shuttle Service Eliminated

On Aug. 6, the campus shuttle made its last rounds. Cuts in UNLV's budget led to the elimination of the state funding for the service.

"I definitely feel like it will be a missed service," McDowell said. "We were at a point where the service was working efficiently and ridership was increasing, but everyone has to do his or her part in helping resolve the budget crisis. While the shuttle has been a valuable service to faculty, staff, students, and visitors, the cost to operate the buses could no longer be absorbed within the department's budget."

UNLV is working with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) to develop alternative modes of transportation. UNLV will be home to a new transit center near In-N-Out Burger on Maryland Parkway, thanks to a $2.8 million grant received by the RTC from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The center will improve regular and rapid-transit bus access to campus.

Some Meter Rates Increasing

Individuals using parking meters along the Maryland Parkway corridor will now pay $1.25 an hour. This includes the meters in the visitor lot off of Harmon Avenue, Lot D east of FDH, and Lot U south of Greenspun Hall.

The increase in those specific lots is intended to open up more spaces for campus visitors by creating more turnover, McDowell said. All other parking meters will remain at $1 per hour.

Other changes include adjustments to daily and weekly permit fees to make them more comparable to annual rates. Vendors using short-term permit parking will see daily and weekly fees increase to $5 and $10 from $3 and $7, respectively. Faculty/staff will see daily and weekly fees increase to $4 and $8 from $3 and $7, respectively.