The University of ___________Parking Deck ProjectPrincipals of
PlanningGE 310Fall 1996 The University of ________________ has
been confronted with claims of parking shortages over the past several
years. Many of these claims were not supported by any facts or figures
that explained the cause of the parking shortages. In fact, some of the
claims of insufficient parking were based on students not being able to
locate parking spaces in the parking lots adjacent to their first class. Due
to recent and projected enrollment increases, there now exist a genuine
parking shortage. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the
current parking, plan for future parking needs, and propose possible
locations for increased parking spaces at the University of
______________. The 1996 enrollment for the University of
______________ is 4,960. The enrollment increased approximately
twelve (12) students from the 1995 enrollment. There are currently 2,303
total parking spaces on University property. The University Master Plan
recommends one parking space for every 1.8 students. The student
enrollment, (divided by) the number of students per parking space,
(equals) the number of recommended parking spaces.
1996 Enrollment 4,960
Students Per Parking Space / 1.8 (Divided by)
Recommended Parking Spaces = 2,756
Recommended Parking Spaces 2,756
Current Parking Spaces - 2,303 (Minus)
Shortage of Parking Spaces = 453The
number of Students Per Parking Space ( 1.8 ) is based on a national
average of University parking. This formula shows that the University is
currently deficient 453 parking spaces. The existing parking areas are
positioned at various locations on the campus of the University. These
parking lots vary in size from 6 to 294 spaces. Many of the parking areas
are located in the heart of the University. This allows for easy
accessibility but it takes away from the aesthetic beauty of the campus.
The existing parking areas also cause traffic congestion in their
immediate area. The majority of the parking lots are located on streets
that have limited access or the exits do not allow for an easy transition
into existing streets. Planning for the future growth of the University
of __________________ is essential when assessing its future parking
needs. The University of North Alabama Master Plan must be taken into
consideration when planning for the future. The Master Plan proposes
many changes for the overall improvement of the University.(See Figure
2) These improvements include dramatic changes in the existing parking
facilities of the University. The physical changes that have been
proposed by the Master Plan must be used in conjunction with
demographic data in order to provide a user friendly and beautiful
campus. The University Master Plan proposes many creative ideas
for the future of the University. These ideas, if enacted, would cause the
campus to be more aesthetically pleasing and efficient. The University
Master Plan contains plans to remove and redesign much of the internal
parking on the campus. Parking spaces in the following areas would be
eliminated: Wesleyan Ave., Morrison Ave., parking lot K, parking lot E,
and parking lot H. (see Figure 1) There will be a total of approximately
400 parking spaces that will need to be relocated in order to conform to
the Master Plan. These lost parking spaces must be accommodated in
another location. The number of lost parking spaces when added to the
existing parking shortage will result in a parking space deficiency of over
800. This will cause a substantial parking shortage in the near future if
plans are not quickly enacted. Projected enrollment must be taken into
consideration, in order to make sure that the University has adequate
facilities for the students and faculty. The University Admissions Office is
projecting an enrollment increase of 347 over the next five (5) years.
(This figure was derived from the formula used earlier in the study). This
increase, when added to the existing parking shortage, would result in the
deficiency of 645 parking spaces. Five (5) years is a relatively short
period of time and the parking problems will only compound in the future.
After conforming to the Master Plan and planning for enrollment
growth the University will be deficient over 1000 spaces. These figures
are overwhelming. This is why an appropriate plan must be reviewed and
approved as soon as possible. Now that the parking needs of the
University have been discussed, an appropriate site(s) must be found for
the new parking facilities. The use of a parking deck would be best suited
to the needs of the University. Guidelines should be followed in order to
insure an efficient and pleasant parking facility. Accessibility, ample area,
convenience, and cost are a few of the criteria that will be discussed for
locating the new parking deck. After reviewing the criteria, the location
for the new parking facility should be at the current Kilby School. Plans
have already been discussed for the relocation of Kilby School and the
future empty location would provide the optimum qualities needed for a
new parking deck. The Master Plan places practice athletic fields at this
location. Therefore, it would not be displacing any dominant structures in
the area.(see Figure 2) These qualities are covered in the preceding
paragraph. The location provides excellent accessibility. Pine Street is
a four lane street that could easily meet the increased traffic flow caused
my the addition of the parking deck. Oakview Drive could easily be
expanded and connected to Stewart Street. This would provide access
from an alternate direction. Traffic lights and existing intersections would
regulate the traffic flow from the parking deck smoothly into existing
traffic. (see Figure 2) The use of express exits would be implemented to
accommodate the high traffic flow exiting the parking deck after classes
or during other school activities. The Kilby location would also provide
ample area for the construction. This site could easily accommodate 300
parking spaces per level. This would still allow room for landscaping and
access roads that would serve the parking deck. This large area would
also eliminate the need of stacking a high number of layers into a small
area. The proposed location would also be convenient for all of its users.
Its location would provide short walking distances to all of the buildings
on campus. It would be useful during activities held at Norton Auditorium
and the Student Union Building. The location would easily accommodate
the parking spaces that will be eliminate in parking lot K (behind the
Guillot Center). A simple pedestrian walk over Pine Street would provide
all users safe access to the entire campus. The cost of the parking
would be held to a minimum. This is due to the small amount of
excavation that would be needed to prepare the site for building. The
parking deck would only need a few levels do to its large area. It would
also be easy to build the structure so that more level additions would be
possible. All of these options give the University the flexibility to build a
parking deck that is economically feasible. This study has reviewed
the existing parking facilities and their capabilities at the University. It has
also discussed the present and future parking shortages that it is facing.
It has attempted to conform to the Master Plan of the University and
shown methods to eliminate the parking dilemma. Hopefully all of these
ideas can be reviewed and implemented to improve the overall beauty
and efficiency of the University of ____________________.
BIBLIOGRAPHYUniversity of
_____________________ Master Plan.Arcy Thomas J.,1994., The
Dimensions of Parking., ULI-the Urban Land Institute.Branch Melville C.,
1983., Comprehensive City Planning., American Planning Association.
. internal
parking on the campus. Parking spaces in the following areas would be
eliminated: Wesleyan Ave., Morrison Ave., parking lot K, parking lot E,
and parking. per parking space,
(equals) the number of recommended parking spaces.
1996 Enrollment 4,960
Students Per Parking Space / 1.8 (Divided by)
Recommended Parking