In order to improve the campus parking experience for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, Drake will implement a new parking structure and rates beginning in the fall 2019 semester.
Effective Aug. 1, 2019, parking lots on campus will be divided into seven, color-coded zones. Commuter lots will include Lot 16: Olmsted (yellow), Lot 13: Wifet Plaza (red), Lots 18 and 18N (green), lots east of 27th Street (orange), and lots west of 27th Street (grape). View map.
Commuter lots will also be divided into two payment tiers. Parking permits for the 2019-20 academic year will cost $250 for high-demand zones (yellow, red, and green). While low-demand, peripheral-campus zones (orange and grape) will cost $125. Campus members will have the option of purchasing a parking permit within the zone of their choice, and based on their desired price point.
Pricing for 2019-20 parking permits was carefully determined following a third-party, comprehensive study, which measured parking trends, usage, and future demand. The study revealed that even after the removal of three parking lots due to construction, there remains adequate campus parking (more spots than permit holders). The new zone system is designed to provide a more predictable parking experience for the Drake community and evenly distribute parking across campus.
Those who register for a parking permit next fall will receive a hang-tag that corresponds with their designated parking zone. On Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., commuters will be required to park in their assigned zone. Those who park in lots other than their designated zone may be ticketed.
Residential parkers, as in the past, will be assigned to a residential lot (blue). View Map. Residential students are strongly encouraged not to bring a car to campus and instead walk, bike, take a DART bus, or rent a car through the Enterprise car-sharing program, WeCar. WeCar vehicles are parked at dedicated spots near campus, and members can rent a vehicle anytime and then return it to where they picked it up.
The University hopes the new parking regulations will advance Drake’s sustainability efforts by increasing the use of alternative modes of transportation. In addition to WeCar, alternative transportation options include free DART bus rides (with Drake ID) all over Des Moines and a discounted rate to ride BCycle bicycles. There are four BCycle stations close to campus; bikes are $3 per trip or $20 per year with unlimited 60-minute rides.
For questions regarding the new parking rates and structure, view an FAQ or visit the Public Safety web page. Questions may also be directed to Scott Law, executive director campus public safety and operational services, at scott.law@drake.edu.
— Scott Law, Executive Director Campus Public Safety & Operational Services