Cost of Parking
Hello and good afternoon. I am in my almost 4th year of being a staff member at ASU and it is getting harder to understand how it is that I have to pay $780 per year to park to come to work. That is a lot of money coming out of my current salary that barely covers my rent, car insurance, utilities, groceries, gas, etc. If I felt safer parking off campus in the surrounding neighborhoods or riding the buses or the light rails, I would but as a female, I don't feel safe walking off campus. People are honestly in shock when I tell them how much I pay to park to go to work. I have had faculty laugh in my face when they joke that it is only $30 per pay period and they can afford that or they have a secret, free parking spot off campus and nearby. That is a lot that for someone that isn't making what a faculty member makes. I would like for a discount to be considered for at least half or even free parking.
Resolution/Notes
Thank you for sharing your concerns, we truly appreciate the time you took to express how the current parking structure is impacting you. We recognize that the cost of living and commuting can be a significant burden, and we understand how frustrating it can be to balance these costs on a limited budget.
To provide some clarity, the Arizona Board of Regents has mandated that ASU Parking and Transit Services operate as a self-funded entity. This means that all revenue collected from parking permits, visitor parking, and citations is reinvested directly into maintaining and improving the parking and transportation services across our campuses. These funds help support essential services such as shuttle operations, maintenance and security of parking structures, subsidized public transit passes, and the development of new parking infrastructure and technology.
We do want to highlight that purchasing a parking permit ensures a regulated, well-maintained, and safer parking environment—particularly important for those who may not feel comfortable parking off campus. While off-campus options may offer lower upfront costs, they often lack the security, consistency, and convenience that ASU parking facilities provide.
Regarding pricing, parking permits are priced equally across all members of the university community- students, staff, and faculty alike—as this is the most fair and equitable approach. Everyone, from first-year students to President Crow, pays the same rates to park on campus.
For perspective, while the annual rate may seem high at a glance, when broken down over the course of the year, it averages approximately $3 per day—less than the daily visitor rate of $16. This structure provides a more economical option for frequent campus visitors and helps ensure sustainable support for the services and infrastructure we all rely on.