1 p.m., June 15, 2010----Several changes in parking at the University of Delaware are being implemented this year in support of long-term goals for the future development of the Newark campus.

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Changes include moving the Parking Services office from Public Safety to Supporting Services; reducing the amount of surface parking on the central part of the campus; creating a Central Zone parking district and enhancing the shuttle bus system.

The alignment of Parking with Supporting Services will allow more interaction with the Transportation office, which runs the campus shuttle bus system and also maintains ties with local and regional public transit, such as DART, SEPTA and Amtrak.

“This arrangement is successful at many colleges and universities,” William F. Fitzpatrick, director of Supporting Services, said, “ and it was one of the recommendations of the Parking Task Force and our transportation planning consultant Martin/Alexiou/Bryson, a consulting group that worked on the 'Campus Capacity and Assessment Review.' Sharing information and resources across the two units will enable us to serve the campus better.”

A key component of the Campus Capacity study focused on the historic core of the campus and the need to develop it as the central academic and social hub of the University. Surface parking is not the best use of this prime real estate, and the long-term goal over the next decade or so will be to move more and more parking outside the central campus.

The beginning of construction for the new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Laboratory building at Lovett Avenue and Academy Street has resulted in the loss of 500 parking spaces on the central campus. A new Central Zone parking district will help strategically manage parking in the core and will make for a more predictable parking experience. The new zone will be primarily available to employees. All permit categories will be allowed to use the central lots after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Parking capacity is still available in other areas of the campus, and UD employees have several options available to them, ranging from free parking to a guaranteed space in a gate lot.

“Our long-term goal is to make UD a 'Park Once' campus,” Fitzpatrick said. “We want members of the University community to come to the campus, park and then walk or use the shuttle during the time they're here. We also hope it will reduce automotive traffic around the central campus core throughout the day.”

Employees have a variety of options available to them in terms of the type of parking they purchase; efforts are under way to improve the campus bus experience, with newer buses, additional routes, expanded hours and more frequent service. Earlier this year, UD Transportation added a real-time bus tracking information service for bus riders. A special summer bus route has been added that runs through Aug. 27.

Complete details about parking options and costs for the coming year are now available at the new Parking Services website, and online enrollment for parking for the 2010-2011 academic year will begin on June 15 at this website.