RUPD makes parking changes

RUPD makes parking changes

Important parking changes have been announced by the Rice University Police Department, including changes in parking lot locations, size and availability as well as new options for the vehicle registration process.

Parking registration should have been completed by the start of the fall semester. Members of the Rice community have been presented with different options this year, noted police Chief Bill Taylor, with most involving the stadium parking lot.

It was expected that, for the first time, all parking spots in the east stadium lot would be sold, Taylor said. Construction on campus, particularly that involving the residential colleges and the new Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management, has resulted in displacement of cars from other lots on campus to the east stadium lot, Taylor explained.

Some of the changes in the east stadium parking lot include expanding the portion of the lot west of Alice Pratt Brown Hall to three times its previous size to accommodate more faculty and staff close-in parking and extending the resident-student parking to Rice Boulevard. Commuter-student parking is located at the western most part of the east stadium lot while the least expensive faculty and staff parking remains at its location near the annex building.

Another significant change to the stadium parking lot is the relocation of the shuttle-bus route and shelters to the north/south center line of the lot. The shelters are more centrally located, Taylor said, and will mean shorter walks for many of the people parking in the stadium lot.

The west stadium lot, except for the bicycle track, is open for overflow parking for cars with any type of permit. Employees of construction contractors have been assigned parking in the north end of the west stadium lot.

Other changes include the elimination of lot J and reallocation of spaces in lot W and around the Rice Media Center and the School of Continuing Studies.

In addition to changes in the parking lots, the police department has introduced a new multiple-year registration system that allows drivers to register for parking once and then be automatically re-enrolled in subsequent years. Once registered, faculty, staff and students will not have to register again unless changing a vehicle or the lot selection. After three years, a new sticker will be distributed.

Faculty, staff and students who have not yet registered for parking are encouraged to do so online at <http://dacnet.rice.edu/users/parkingreg/>. For more information call the Rice University Police Department at (713) 348-6000.

No church parking

Beginning Sept. 11, Rice students and employees will no longer be allowed to use the parking lot at First Christian Church, 1601 Sunset Blvd. at Rice Boulevard.

The church previously allowed students, staff and faculty to park in the lot during the day as an alternative to on-campus parking. During daytime church events, traffic cones and no parking signs were placed in the lot; however, they were often ignored.

During the week prior to Sept. 11, church officials will place warnings on cars parked in the lot. After that, cars will be towed.