Dear Colleagues and Readers,
Welcome to Fundamental Facts & Figures, an annual report on Parking & Transportation Services’ (PTS) programs and services. I hope you find this informative and encourage you to contact us with feedback on how we are doing.
In the past year, we turned the page on our journey through the pandemic impacts. Parking volumes returned to near normal levels. The parking facility lane expansion project has improved the parking experience by creating redundancy and the ability to have more people enter facilities during high traffic times.
We launched a faculty and staff transit pass program as a benefit. Between the Universal and Employee Transit Pass programs, we now have over 60,000 people who are able to access the regional transit system for low or no cost. The pass programs and the ground breaking relationship with Metro Transit have received a number of awards. You will find them listed at the end of this report.
We developed the Gopher Bike loaner program that has been recognized with national awards. It was also a sustainability measure as we diverted over 200 bikes from the scrap heap.
Fleet implemented telematics programs and pushed the envelope with the transition to more fuel efficient vehicles. The work toward more electric vehicles is underway, and faces many challenges as the charging infrastructure presents some speed bumps.
This will be my last letter as I wrap up over eleven years of service. It has been an honor to serve as the Director of Parking & Transportation Services at the University of Minnesota. We have accomplished much, been recognized for many innovative programs, and delivered across all the areas of the transportation system to have our campus function in a very sustainable and effective way. I look forward to watching the next leader continue to deliver on the Vision we set so many years ago.
We welcome feedback or questions. Feel free to contact us at any time.
Sincerely,
Ross Allanson, CAPP, CPP
Director, Parking & Transportation Services