The University of New Mexico has set its parking rates for the 2022-2023 academic year (AY2022-2023). The University’s new rates remain at or below those of peer institutions and allow UNM Parking & Transportation Services (UNM PATS) to balance increasing operational costs and fund capital projects for parking lots and garages across campus. New parking rates will go into effect with the AY2022-2023 parking permit sales beginning in late July.
UNM Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) and Future Planning
As a 100 percent self-funded auxiliary of the University, UNM PATS is responsible for covering all its operating and capital expenses (e.g., bus purchases, parking lot and structure repairs, building maintenance, purchase of IT equipment, etc.). To meet its mission at UNM, which is to help ensure equitable access to the University through the provision of parking and shuttle services, it is imperative that UNM PATS be strategic in planning for future parking and shuttle service needs at UNM.
In January 2021, UNM PATS established the UNM Parking Advisory Committee (PAC) to help review and provide recommendations on UNM PATS’ processes, projects and services. The PAC membership includes representatives from UNM faculty, staff, key UNM partner departments (e.g. ARC, Facilities Management, Provost and Dean of Students offices, HSC departments, Division for Student Affairs) and student bodies (ASUNM, GPSA) on central and north campuses. The University administration, along with the PAC, examined the various risks and challenges UNM PATS faces and carefully considered the wide range of parties that would be affected by parking rate changes before setting the new parking rates for AY2022-2023. The new rates were decided based on the following:
Campus Development and Lost Parking
Over the past 5-6 years, the University has experienced an increase in new building construction and the expansion of existing facilities. Most of these new or expanded facilities were built on top of campus parking lots – which simultaneously reduced the total number of parking spaces available on campus and increased demand for parking near these new structures.
Last year UNM PATS, in collaboration with UNM Planning, Design & Construction (PDC), hired Walker Parking Consultants to perform a Parking Structure Feasibility Study. The study indicates the most efficient use of land to address parking losses that have resulted from the many newly constructed facilities is to build parking structures. UNM PATS must be able to financially shoulder the debt service involved in the construction and ongoing maintenance of any new structure.
Over the years UNM PATS has worked diligently to keep the cost of parking as low as possible, the last major increase in permit rates occurred in Fall of 2013. Unfortunately, UNM PATS is at the point where parking rates must be increased in order to keep up with operational and capital expenses, including construction of parking structure(s) – an enhancement that will ultimately deliver a better experience for faculty, staff and students as our campus continues to evolve. Additionally, UNM PATS is always looking for innovative ways to elevate the customer experience using new technologies and other infrastructure improvements that UNM PATS hopes to introduce in the future by way of these rate increases.
AY2022-2023 Parking Rates
Effective with the start of the AY2022-2023 parking permit sales, all parking rates will increase and will be adjusted annually going forward. Please review the new AY2022-2023 parking rates below:
- Commuter Lots - $204
- Student Proximity - $264
- Student Structure - $528
- Student Resident Surface (fall/spring) - $360
- Student Resident Structure (fall/spring) - $552
- Motorcycle - $84
- Moped/Scooter - $42
- Commuter Lots - $204
- Faculty/Staff Proximity - $456 (low-mid), $528 (high)
- Faculty/Staff Structure - $552 (low-mid), $780 (high)
- Motorcycle - $84
- Moped/Scooter - $42
- Emeritus - $138
- Individual Reserved Surface - $1,320
- Individual Reserved Structure - $1,608
Department Reserved Parking
- Department Reserved Surface - $1,272
- Department Reserved Structure - $1,644
Hourly (Pay Station) Parking
- $1.50 per half hour, with a $20/8 hour daily maximum.
Student Parking Permit Sales Dates
Students can purchase their AY2022-2023 parking permits, including the Student “Fall-Only” permits, in-person or online when permits sales open as follows:
- Resident permits (living in RL/SH, Casas del Rio, or Lobo Rainforest) – Thursday, July 28 at 7:30 a.m.
- Proximity permits (includes Yale Structure) – Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7:30 a.m.
- Commuter permits (Q, South Lot, and K) – Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 a.m.
To purchase a parking permit, log in to your Parking Account the day your desired permit goes on sale, click on “Manage My Account” and select your preferred parking permit. REMINDER: permits are sold on a first come, first served basis and many sell out quickly. If the permit you want is sold out, you may add your name to the waitlist for that permit if eligible to purchase that permit.
Automatic Renewal (Faculty & Staff Only)
UNM PATS would like to remind current Staff and Faculty with an active parking permit paid for through automatic payroll deduction, that the automatic renewal for AY2022-2023 parking permits will be processed on the weekend of July 30-31.
If you do not want your current UNM parking permit to renew, please complete and submit the Do Not Renew Permit Request form by 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 27.
Otherwise, you will need to wait until you receive and return your new permit as it must be brought into our business office for deactivation.
As always, UNM PATS would like to thank our customers for their understanding and support as we work towards ensuring accessibility to the university and the ability to offer more services and options for our customers. UNM PATS welcomes you to share ideas, requests and any concerns you may have and help us build for tomorrow. If interested, send an email to parktran@unm.edu.
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