The price to park on campus will remain the same next fall, but using alternate modes of transportation will become more costly.
Both Valley Metro and ASU Parking and Transit Services announced future prices this week.
Shereen Saurey, information specialist coordinator for PTS, said that parking-permit prices would stabilize for the fall semester.
It was always intended for parking rates to balance out after a three-year rate of price increases was implemented by the suggestion of an independent task force, Saurey said.
A task force directed by President Michael Crow and made up of faculty and staff members conducted a six-month study beginning in October 2005.
“In order to continue to provide the alternate forms of transportation and sustain the impacts of the parking, it was recommended by the task force that we increase our rates [in 2006],” Saurey said.
Beginning in the fall of 2006, the prices of parking permits began to increase and are now ready to level off with the close of the 2008-2009 school year, she said.
Intercampus shuttles and the Zipcar program will remain as alternate forms of transportation offered through PTS, and student, faculty and staff-issued U-Pass cards will be available for use on the light-rail, Saurey added.
As prices stabilize for PTS, the Valley Metro board announced Thursday that bus and light-rail fares will increase.
Spokeswoman Susan Tierney said the changes would increase the cost of a one-day pass from $2.50 to $3.50, as well as $1.25 to $1.75 for one ride on the light-rail starting this July. Other price changes are available on the Valley Metro Web site.
A discount is available for those who purchase their passes prior to boarding.
“The reason why we are doing this is because we want to speed up boarding and keep buses on time,” Tierney said.
Valley Metro encourages riders to purchase their passes beforehand through transit centers, fare vending machines, online, the mail program or at retail outlets, Tierney said.
The board-approved increases still need to be approved by Phoenix City Council, though Tierney said the approval is essentially a formality.
Tierney also said she thinks the increases will be effective because of the results of prior studies.
“We honestly believe that about 90 percent of our riders will buy [passes] off the bus,” she said.
Reach the reporter at brianna.mattox@asu.edu
