April 18, 2005
Parking sucks
Policies & Fear: Topic Proposal
Group name: Bad Asses
Group members: Mika, Kevin, Neeraj
1. What is the problem that you will be trying to solve? Please, describe it in detail.
Parking on campus is a problem for everyone. There are too many drivers and not enough spaces or places to park. The population is simply too dense to accommodate individuals who want and need to drive.
2. Why is it a problem that cannot wait? What is its significance or urgency?
The University of Texas has neglected to ever solve this problem so the problem cannot wait. The university does not provide affordable parking for guest, commuters, and students even thought there is such a huge population and demand.
3. Please present your solution, describing it as realistically as possible.
We would like to establish a more extensive bus system to encourage people not to drive and provide benefits to those who don't bring cars to campus (Tuition decrease, registration privileges, free tickets to sporting events)
4. Where would you look for primary research for this paper?
We will need to evaluate the parking and transportation websites as well as doing some investigations and interviews. Most information will come from primary sources.
You will be trying to handle a long-standing problem that everyone recognizes. It might be worth investigating why it has not been solved so far. Your solution seems to depend largely on the idea that a bus system can be effective. Looking into the effectiveness or lack thereof of Capital Metro can give you a clue if the bus concept works. In the process of developing the details of your solution, you might find it hard to argue for its cost efficiency since you will run into millions for start-up costs, bus stops, additional personnel, road projects, and further maintenance. I am listing those concerns not to discourage you from pursuing the solution, but as a clue to the level of detail you will need to achieve in proposing additional bus routes/system.
It might be wiser to focus only on the second half of your solution, i.e. benefits to discourage driving to campus. Without exaggerating the effects of benefits, you can develop a detailed program and a more cost-effective plan of action than the bus idea.
Topic approved with some reservations about the solution!
Posted by Mariela Hristova on April 20, 2005 11:31 AMBenefits to discourage driving to campus:
-decrease in tuition
-sport package benefits
-registration priveleges
If the university is not able to increase parking spots, then the only way to fix the problem is decrease the number of people looking to park on campus with these benefits.
Survey monkey:
1. Do you currently use parking afiliated with UT
2. Are you a resident or a commuter
3. Which of these benefits would modivate you to not drive to campus? (or park)
4. Do you think parking on campus is a problem?
5. Any suggestions to the parking problem?
Interview: email?
1. What action is currently taking place to solve the parking problem?
2. What do you feel is the direct cause of the parking problem?
3. What is keeping UT from making another parking garage that holds more cars? (wouldn't UT be able to raise more money?)
4. On average, how many parking spaces are occupied by commuters, and how many are occupied by residents who keep there cars there long term?
5. UNDERGROUND PARKING????
Hey guys..sorry about missing class on monday i had registration problems!
http://www.utexas.edu/parking/
Posted by mika on April 27, 2005 12:23 PM