The fee for visitor parking on the Davis campus goes up to $9 for a daily permit, a $1 increase, effective Friday (Aug. 1). Other permit rates will stay the same, and there are no plans to raise them in the 2014-15 fiscal year, according to Transportation and Parking Services, or TAPS.

TAPS Director Cliff Contreras said the daily rate increase will help his unit cover rising operational costs, as well as a decline in parking revenue — the result of more employees choosing alternate transportation.

TAPS is all for alternate transportation, investing in it via the goClub, which offers incentives to employees who take the bus or ride the train, who come to work in carpools or vanpools, or who walk or bike.

Fewer vehicles on campus leads to reduced auto emissions, less traffic congestion and less land having to be set aside for parking, Contreras said, and ultimately minimizes future rate increases — by not having to build new facilities.

At the same time, TAPS continues to implement multiple strategies to reduce costs and create efficiencies in its operations, Contreras said. 

TAPS also announced a $5 increase for parking citations, effective Aug. 1. This will boost the fine for most violations to $50 (including a state-mandated surcharge for courthouse construction).

Contreras noted his department’s efforts to help people avoid citations. For example, TAPS installed new, more user-friendly signs at parking lot entrances; made improvements to the campus parking map; and continues to offer the EasyPark meter, a prepaid timing device — you put it in your car window (where parking officers can see it), and, as the device ticks away, you’re paying only for the time you are parked.

“Collectively, these measures have resulted in higher compliance with campus parking regulations,” Contreras said.

He said TAPS will strive to minimize future rate increases and support cost-effective, environmentally friendly transportation alternatives, in collaboration with the Transportation and Parking Administrative Advisory Committee, the Campus Bicycle Committee, the Transportation and Parking Work Group, and all parking patrons. “We welcome your suggestions to continuously improve the programs and services we offer the campus community,” he said.

In addition, TAPS has scheduled meetings with the Academic Senate and other constituent groups during the upcoming months to review existing and future parking program costs and revenues. These meetings will determine future parking initiatives and potential rate increases that may be necessary to support TAPS’ program costs.

Contact TAPS by telephone, (530) 752-8277, or email.

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.