Parking permit rates for the 2018-19 parking year (Sept. 1, 2018 – Aug. 31, 2019) have been approved and released. It is year five of the six-year conversion plan to a two-tier system. By 2019-20, the plan places all parking structures and high-demand surface lots into one category, and all remaining surface lots in another. The changing categories see a 10 percent increase per parking year, while non-changing lots undergo a three percent increase. By phasing the conversion in over six years, one-time, large-scale price increases were avoided.
Afternoon permit prices also rise by three percent. Night permit costs will not change. The price of department service permits will now match the cost of the highest base lot level.
The price for the 2018-19 employee bus pass will increase from $36 to $48. This will help cover a fraction of a tax subsidy cost resulting from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which taxes subsidized transit passes at a rate of 21 percent. More on the effects of the tax reform, including bus pass cost and pre-tax payroll deductions.
As an auxiliary enterprise of UW-Madison, Transportation Services—a division of Facilities Planning and Management—receives no state funding and must generate revenue to fund its programs and activities. Revenue funds parking lots and facilities, bus service, and federal- and state-mandated alternate transportation activities.
Policy changes
Beginning Sept. 1, 2018:
- Enforcement in Lot 51 will change from weekdays 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to controlled at all times. A lot-specific permit will be required weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; any valid UW permit is allowed after 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- To help monitor traffic and provide more accurate lot occupancy counts, gate arms will be down in all gated lots at all times. Lots 17 (Engineering Drive), 20 (University Avenue), 36 (Observatory Drive), and 76 (University Bay Drive) will continue to be available for weekend parking at no charge. People parking during no-charge hours will pull a ticket to enter the lot and use it to exit for a $0 charge. Annual permit holders will see no change; their permits will let them into their assigned lots at all times.
Information was released the week of May 21 about parking applications for the 2018-19 parking year. Please take time to confirm your priority email in the Transportation Services eBusiness portal (log in, click on your name, then see “Manage Your Account Information”).
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