Tag: grand forks

More Parking “Fun” at UND

If you want to see some of the suggestions by staff about parking on campus, look no further! Head to the Staff Senate suggestion box and click “By Topic,” “Facilities,” and then “Parking & Transportation.”

Screenshot of a web page showing where you should click.

I’d like to suggest some more about promoting walking, cycling, and transit, but I doubt these ideas will be taken seriously unless I show up to the next open forum.

Edited to add an email with more information about the upcoming parking process:

Open forums will be held March 25 and April 15 to seek input from students, faculty and staff regarding UND Parking and Transportation planning and possible changes. All are welcome.

  • Monday, March 25, 9:30-10:30 a.m., Memorial Union Lecture Bowl
  • Monday, April 15, 3-4 p.m., Memorial Union Lecture Bowl

Following is some background information about the proposed changes. Please note that final decisions on parking and transportation have not yet been made. More information will be provided when it is available.

Why are parking and transportation changes being considered?

UND Parking must become self-supporting within the next five years, and will no longer receive state funds beginning in 2024. All costs and expenses related to parking must be covered through permit sales and parking fees.

Currently, parking is partially subsidized from other sources, and that support will no longer be available. Parking permits and fees must provide enough revenue to operate, maintain, and develop parking lots and spaces. One goal of the new model is dedicate funds for parking lot maintenance and construction.

How is the parking policy being developed?

Members of the Parking Committee have been meeting regularly to develop a new plan for parking. The forums will gather input from students, faculty and staff. Parking recommendations will be finalized in May and sent to Vice President for Finance & Operations Jed Shivers for review. After review, the new parking structure will begin operating Aug. 1.

What changes are being considered?

One of the unique challenges faced by Parking Services is that nearly everyone uses parking. And as much as we would like to, not everyone can park at the front door.

Parking revolves around three factors: cost, convenience and supply. Everyone would like parking to be convenient, inexpensive and sufficient, but that’s not possible. If parking is inexpensive and convenient, it will not be sufficient. If there is sufficient and inexpensive parking, it will not be convenient. And if there is sufficient and convenient parking, it will be expensive.

Parking fees will likely be raised to cover parking costs. Instead of zones, parking may be “tiered,” or have different costs according to location. And parking spaces may be shared. For example, 100 people can generally share 60 to 80 spaces, since not everyone is on campus at the same time. Parking fees may differ by location and use.

Shuttle bus services may offer additional routes to transport people from more distant lots. Those lots will have lower parking rates. Shuttle bus services may also be adjusted.

When will the changes take place?

No final decision has been made. If the recommendations are approved, they will go into effect on Aug. 1.

Best of Craigslist 2014-07-24

I did not write this post, I promise.

To The Cyclists on University – 27 (University)
Keep calm. Fellow cyclist here; not here to run you off the road.



So, we got bike symbols painted on University. Sweet! Maybe less people will harass us now that it’s clear we actually belong in the street and not on the sidewalk.



Yeah, let me repeat that: now that we have bicycle arrows painted on the street, fellow cyclists, we need to be utilizing that resource. Not riding on the sidewalk anymore like a bunch of kids. I saw a mother out with her 5-year old daughter sharing the lane with cars today. If little girls can do it, you can do it.



We also need to be following the rules. Like adults. No one is going to support putting in more bicycle lanes if we keep blowing through intersections and acting like a bunch of arrogant, above-the-law, holier-than-thou assholes. And I’m as guilty as anyone of doing it, especially while riding in a pack.



Just because we finally got a little more space on the road doesn’t mean we have to hog the whole lane. Sure, it’s fun when we’re in a pack of 4 or 5 and can own it so we feel safe. But the guy stuck behind us is gonna take it out on me when I’m alone. This is how most of our road rage horror stories probably start. Ride single file when there’s a car back and just hold whatever it is you have to say until we get to where we’re going.



North Dakotans are known for being nice; let’s keep it that way.

 

 

Grand Forks 311

You can now submit problems and requests directly to the city of Grand Forks with a 311 mobile app(lication) and online.  It looks like they are using the PublicStuff platform, which looks a great deal like SeeClickFix but the city apparently pays for.

Glancing through the Android app, it looks like they are keeping up with some of the requests and there has been a fair amount of activity since the app launched three days ago (but the list also includes requests from the testing phase before launch).

You do not need to log in or create an account to create an issue, but you do need to have an account to “support” (thumbs up) a concern.

I plan to keep the SeeClickFix sidebar up, at least for East Grand Forks.  [This was on the old Grand Forks Streets blog. 2014-09-10]

Submit issues or get the app here: http://www.grandforksgov.com/online-services/gf-311/report-a-concern

 

Bonus: Grand Forks City Council on “Bicycle Craze”

Council Member Sande stated not aware when biking became rage in Grand Forks, that he keeps hearing about bicycling from a variety of people with variety of points of view, none seem cohesive and wondering what it would take to get us on the same page about the bicycle craze. The MPO, the engineering department and Trail Users all seem to have their own agendas and process, because heard tonight that we connected the loop, that we created the dead-end ourselves by approving the 42nd Street bikepath and then the 24th bikepath that went no-where in the first place, so if going to connect the loops, why did we make a non-loop in the first place,; great if could review our current ordinances, apparently there are some regulations where not supposed to ride bikes on sidewalks, an unenforceable ordinance – should look at that and should have a sub-committee, a task force, with regard to bicyclists and come together and get a good plan to see if could get on the same page.

From the April 7th minutes.