Building a New Parking

Garage for UF
Underclassmen
Group 4: 044C
Date: November 14, 2016
Professor: Dr. Priscilla Berry

Class: GEB5212 Professional Writing

Members: Alex Anzalone, Stephanie Elkin, Jonathan Connor Yann, Shan Zhang

MEMORANDUM
TO: University of Florida Parking and Transportation Committee
FROM: Stephanie Elkin, Student Body President
DATE: November 15, 2016
SUBJECT: Building a New Parking Garage for UF Underclassmen

Executive Summary
Students who decide to live on-campus can choose from 26 residence halls with various features and
vibrant communities. However, for on-campus students who venture off to run errands, work at a job or
internship, or take in the many things that Gainesville has to offer, finding a place to park upon return is
difficult at best and at worst, downright impossible.
A new parking garage designated only for undergraduate use would:
Encourage students to seek out all that UF and Gainesville has to offer
Reduce the amount of parking citations given and processed
Increase student safety, especially at night
In an effort to facilitate student engagement, reduce unnecessary parking citations, and increase safety
overall, we propose the construction of a centrally located parking garage that is specifically reserved for
on-campus students holding Red 1 and Red 3 decals, northwest of Museum Road and 13th Street. The
garage would cost around $8.7 million but would be an investment to improve student experience and
increase the value of UFs campus.

Situation
The University of Floridas otherwise excellent student experience has been marred by the impact of
parking issues. According to U.S. News, UF has a total enrollment of 52,286 students, with 24% living
in housing owned, operated, or affiliated with the university (U.S. News, 2016). In other words, over
12,500 students live on campus, which means they park on campus as well. Students with more credit
hours have an advantage with access to 22,200 spaces. The options for parking decals found on UF
Transportation and Parking Services website indicate the limitations for choices for students. Eligibility
for on-campus undergrad students is determined by credit hours, as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Student Decal Types and Eligibility

Source: UF Transportation and Parking Services

Theres a consistent shortage of parking spaces on
campus for Freshmen. They arxe also limited to the Red
3 decals, as incoming credits do not count and decals
cannot be changed in the middle of an academic year.
The only students who are able to use Red 1 decals at all
are second-year and above students who still live on
campus, generally sorority or fraternity members or
Resident Assistants.

I had to walk every morning

nearly a mile from my sorority
house to the commuter lot
and then back in the dark

There are only 22,200 spaces on the entire campus, and those few parking spaces that are available to
undergraduate students are on the outskirts of campus, far away from most residence halls, as shown in
Figure 2.

Figure 2. Designated Areas for Undergraduate Parking

Source: UF Transportation and Parking Services

Furthermore, in the areas where multiple residences are in close proximity of each other, there is sparse
or even nonexistent parking. For instance, in one popular corner of campus near the intersection of
Museum Road and 13th Street, there are 8 freshman residence halls, as well as the sorority houses across
the road. Despite student population density, the only Red parking available is half of a level of Norman
garage and a small lot behind sorority row. Parking spaces for undergraduate use should be allocated for
student density and population.

Concept
We propose the construction of a parking garage in a central location that is specifically for the use of
on-campus students. This garage will not just simply provide more parking spots, but will also facilitate
student engagement, reduce unnecessary parking citations, and increase safety overall.
The UF campus and the city of Gainesville have numerous opportunities for enrichment and recreation
that all students should be encouraged to enjoy. However, parking for on-campus students has become
such a problem that students are actually less likely to use these resources if they require a vehicle to
access, especially for activities that occur at night. A survey of one sorority with 58 members living inhouse found that nearly 60% of members were less likely to attend events that were not within walking
distance, and an additional 20% of members would only attend such events if they were during the day.
Some students even reported being late for on-campus interviews or events when coming back to
campus from jobs or internships because they were unable to find a parking spot. UF should assist
students in all that Gainesville has to offer without being limited by parking issues.
Additionally, the lack of Red 1 and Red 3 availability often forces students to park their cars illegally.
Many times, students are late for important on-campus events and decide to risk the fine. Other times,
they decide that the citation is worth a shorter walk back to their dorm if its dark outside. We can all
agree that UFPD has more important matters to attend to than issuing parking tickets, and Transportation
and Parking Services has better things to do than handle the multitude of students who come in daily to

attempt to appeal their citation. Increasing availability of Red parking through a new garage will
streamline operations on UFs end as well.
Most importantly, the lack of parking readily available in close proximity to residence areas poses a
serious safety threat to students, especially women. During my tenure as Student Body President, I have
heard many stories like the following ones:

I was very excited that I was

hired to intern at a startup
downtown, but because I had a
Red 3 decal, I had to walk every
morning nearly a mile from my
sorority house to the commuter lot
and then back in the dark at the
end of the day. Abby Miller,
Alpha Chi Omega resident

I dont feel comfortable walking

alone at night and I cant always
ensure that I have someone to
walk with me as I make my regular
trek from the commuter lot back to
my dorm at night. Andie Young,
Jennings Hall resident

I didnt have a meal plan when I lived on

campus and would often go grocery
shopping after my classes ended for the day.
It was both frustrating and frightening
having to circle around my lot for an hour,
give up and park a mile away from my dorm,
and walk home alone in the dark as a
woman. Rachel Kline, Murphree Hall
resident

The safety of our students should be an unquestionable priority. The lack of available parking for
students living in on-campus residences is a legitimate hazard to students.

Lack of
Safety

Inconvenien
ce

Disatisfactio
n

Solution
A garage designated for undergraduate student use with parking for Red 1 and Red 3 decals will greatly
improve the experiences of students living on UFs campus. There is consistently a shortage of parking
spaces that are in close proximity to the nearly 12,500 undergraduate students that live on campus.
Therefore, this new garage should be centrally located to as many residence areas as possible, preferably
the undeveloped area northwest of Museum Road and 13th Street. This additional parking garage is
necessary and will benefit the university by encouraging students to purchase a decal and bring their car
to campus.

Costs
Based on comparable projects, we estimate the cost of building a 145,000 square ft., five-story parking
garage with 390 spaces to be around $8.7 million, as shown in Figure 3 (Fixr, n.d.).
Figure 3. Estimated Construction Costs

Source: Parking Garage Construction Cost Estimate, 2013 RSMeans Data

By financing this new structure with long-term debt, the creation of a new parking garage will create
value and increase equity for the campus. If students continue to be extremely dissatisfied with parking
availability, UFs reputation will suffer. As enrollment increases each year, a long-term goal to increase
parking spaces will pay off in future years as well as eliminate negative aspects of the student experience
that arise from parking difficulties.

Conclusion
The construction of a new parking garage that is only available for undergraduate student use and
located near residence halls will greatly improve the UF student experience. Fixing parking issues can
alleviate one of the most common complaints that students have about on-campus life and will
encourage students to enjoy Gainesville to its fullest, reduce parking citations, and increase safety.
We would like to present this proposal to the Board of Directors in January and have the University
move forward with starting construction in Fall of 2017.

Works Cited
Build a Parking Garage Cost. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from
http://www.fixr.com/costs/build-parking-garage
Campus Map. (2016). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://campusmap.ufl.edu/#
Parking Garage Construction Cost Estimates Available by City. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14,
2016, from http://learn.rsmeans.com/rsmeans/models/garage/list/
Transportation and Parking Services. Parking at UF. Parking Map. (2016, August 29). Retrieved
November 14, 2016, from http://parking.ufl.edu/parking-at-uf/parking-map/
Transportation and Parking Services. Decals. Students. (2016). Retrieved November 14, 2016,
from http://parking.ufl.edu/decals/students/
Transportation and Parking Services. Parking at UF. Transportation and Parking Committee.
Orientation. (2015). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from http://parking.ufl.edu/parkingat-uf/parking-transportation-committee/orientation/
University of Florida | Student Life (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-of-florida1535/student-life