The beginning of a complete overhaul of student parking on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus has eased traffic during the fall semester, and university leaders are looking ahead to the next step: adding more parking spaces.
UT hired Tanara Teal-Tate in March to oversee parking on campus . Three months later, the UT System Board of Trustees approved parking changes that increased prices for permits, created tiered parking zones and established a purchasing hierarchy that prioritizes graduate students and upperclassman.
With three months of the new system under its belt, UT shared during the Campus Advisory Board meeting Nov. 8 how reimagining campus parking has benefitted students.
“I’d like to compliment the students, too, because they’ve been patient,” Chancellor Donde Plowman said during the meeting. “They’ve been willing to try. And honestly, I’m really excited about how well it’s gone. And we know we’ll keep working on it. But when you have a plan, a strategy for how you’re doing it, guess what? It works out better.”