â??We have decided to hold off on any cuts until the parking and transit commission has the chance to fully evaluate and understand their impact.â?

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago announced the formation of a new Parking and Transit Commission early last week, aimed at evaluating and analyzing transportation issues on campus.

The study will focus primarily on the way people come to campus and where they go upon arrival.

The move comes in response to massive reported cuts in the Milwaukee County Transit System that will affect some UWM commuters, as well as the universities own transit funding issues.

A Journal Sentinel report said that over one-third of county transit services could be cut within the next three years, as the department is in dire straits from a funding standpoint.

“The commission was formed partly in response to community transit cuts,” said Vice Chancellor for University Relations Tom Luljak.

The commission will be co-chaired by Vice Chancellor of Administrative Affairs Sherwood Wilson and another yet-to-be-named faculty member. Students will also be allowed to serve on the commission. The commission will work with a hired consultant as the analysis gets underway and recommendations are eventually made.

The university“s parking and transit budget is currently mired in a deficit due in large part to the sparse usage of the new $20 million Klotsche Pavilion. The five-level structure is often only half-full.

“We don“t have any more money. We“re broke, we built a parking structure that is half-empty,” said Parking and Transit Office Director Claude Schuttey.

The Student Association (SA) Senate recently rejected the $13 segregated fee rate requested by the parking and transit office, approving $8.50 for the program. The increased request was made in response to the disappointing and costly lack of Pavilion parking use.

Over $200,000 in potential cuts loomed over UPark services during WinteriM, spring break and the summer semester. The Waukesha-Kenosha busing service was slated to be axed as well. But no cuts will be made until the newly formed commission has commenced its evaluation process and all avenues are explored.

“We have decided to hold off on any cuts until the parking and transit commission has the chance to fully evaluate the situation and understand their (the cuts) impact,” Luljak said.

Thus, UPark will run as is through the 2007-“08 academic year. However, the recently announced hikes in parking meter rates on campus and other surcharges will still be going into effect in June.

Pay stations will increase from 70 cents to 80 cents in all parking garages except Klotsche, which will remain at 70 cents. Twenty-four hour passes will also rise from $8.50 per day to $9 and motorcycle permits will increase from $30 to $70.

Luljak said that the commission is expected to complete their study by summer, and final decisions on proposed service cuts will not be addressed until the fall. Changes made by the commission would not be enacted until the summer of 2008.

Students interested in serving on the commission should visit the Student Association Web site for a committee application.

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