Parking History
When FGCU opened in 1997 parking was not a main concern for students and faculty. There were five separate parking lots, with the capacity to hold 1083 vehicles at any given time. The sixth on-campus parking lot opened in 2001, increasing the number of spaces available on the main campus to 1886. In 2003 the most recent lot was opened with an increase of 66 spaces. The parking garage which was still under construction at the time of project completion is predicted to have 600 spaces, which would leave the total available spaces on the main campus at 2552. This number will temporarily alleviate the current parking situation, however a continuous student and faculty growth pattern will undoubtedly require another parking facility within a few years.
Most off-campus students and faculty members are very frustrated with the current parking situation. Many students arrive more than 30 minutes early for classes just so they can have enough time to circle lots in search of vacant parking spaces. Others park illegally along roadsides or on the grass adjacent to parking lots. Some students park in the faculty lots, filling the lot and forcing faculty members to find alternative parking. Illegal parking does lead to parking violations, which have the opportunity of being appealed.
|
Academic Year |
Resident Tuition |
Non-Resident |
|
97-'98 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
'98-'99 |
$62.19 |
$284.05 |
|
'99-'00 |
$66.36 |
$299.32 |
|
'00-'01 |
$71.68 |
$316.27 |
|
'01-'02 |
$81.76 |
$344.68 |
|
'02-'03 |
$85.23 |
$403.36 |
|
'03-'04 |
$96.86 |
$442.02 |
|
'04-'05 |
$101.85 |
$505.07 |
|
'05-'06 |
$108.67 |
$508.31 |
|
'06-'07 |
$116.66 |
$514.05 |
When FGCU opened in 1997 parking was free to all students and staff.
In 1998, fees were in place. Students paid a fixed rate for the entire year until 2003.
In 2003, parking fees became included in tuition fees per credit.
|
Parking fees |
Fees per year |
Fees per credit |
|
97-'98 |
$0.00 |
- |
|
'98-'99 |
$50.00 |
- |
|
'99-'00 |
$50.00 |
- |
|
'00-'01 |
$50.00 |
- |
|
'01-'02 |
$50.00 |
- |
|
'02-'03 |
$75.00 |
- |
|
'03-'04 |
$126.96 |
$5.29 |
|
'04-'05 |
$126.96 |
$5.29 |
|
'05-'06 |
$126.96 |
$5.29 |
|
'06-'07 |
$168.00 |
$7.00 |
In 3 years of a $50 parking fee, the school profited $150,000, with the money being set aside for future repairs and maintenance to parking lots. The $25/year increase in 2002 increased this profit by another $80,000 per year and continues to increase with fees each year.
The parking garage currently under construction, a 671-space parking garage projected to cost $6,400,000, is projected to open by December 31, 2006 to alleviate current parking problems before the Spring 2007 semester. According to the Board of Trustees, the source of revenue for the garage is to be from parking revenues and transportation fees.
“On September 1, 2004, the FGCU Financing Corporation Board of Directors approved a resolution granting the authority to finance and construct a 500-space parking facility in the principal amount of $6,000,000, contingent upon the approval of the FGCU Board of Trustees. Parking revenues are sufficient to meet debt and coverage requirements. The Corporation’s Board of Directors now request that the FGCU Board of Trustees approve the enclosed resolution authorizing the construction of a 500-space parking facility and financing in the principal amount of $6,000,000.” -Submitted and Prepared by Mr. Curtis Bullock, Assistant to the President and Executive Director, FGCU Financing Corporation