UOW’s major push to increase public transport usage
28 Nov 2008 | Bernie Goldie
In a bid to boost public transport usage among staff and students, the University of Wollongong will introduce sweeping changes to transport and parking from February 2009.
The University Council’s Administrative Committee has approved an extensive range of recommendations dealing with transport arrangements based on a review by consultants, Cardno, and subsequent consideration by senior UOW management.
The transport and parking changes include:
• The existing shuttle bus between North Wollongong Rail Station and the Wollongong (main) campus will become a free shuttle bus from 2 February. The shuttle bus operates every 20 minutes during session time
• Free week-day parking from 2 February for cars arriving at the multi storey car park between 8am and 3pm with three or more occupants. More free spaces across campus will be allocated for cars with more than three occupants depending on usage in the multi storey car park
• Greater assistance to be given to increase car pooling opportunities
• Installing facilities into the new multipurpose sports hall and the new Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute for the secure undercover storage of push bikes along with access to showers and lockers to encourage people to cycle to UOW
• Extension of the electronic “spaces available” system currently installed at the western car park to other major car parks on campus with the aim of helping people find available parking more easily
• An increase in UOW parking fees marking the first increase in five years. Reserved parking will increase to $800 a year and a regular staff parking permit to $300 a year. Additional rates for casual and student parking are available for viewing from November 29 at http://www.uow.edu.au/about/parking
• Introduction of a short-term car park (with rates structured accordingly and controlled by boom gates) at the Innovation Campus. An additional new car park will be constructed by early 2009 behind the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM) Building and will be a long-term car park with a single all day price of $6. University parking permits, for UOW iC based staff with approved access, will be valid in the long-term car park at no cost beyond that of the permit
The Vice-Principal (Administration), Mr Chris Grange, said that the increases in parking revenues had been allocated to a provision fund that will be used for transport improvements.
“These include initiatives to promote the use of alternate modes of transport such as the full subsidisation of the Campus Shuttle Bus,” he said.
Mr Grange said investigations with the RTA and Wollongong City Council were also under way to improve traffic flow into and out of the Wollongong campus.
He said that the University has also appointed Mr Tom Hunt as the new Project Manager for UOW Transport Issues who has been given the task of co-ordinating all the planned 2009 transport and parking changes.
For further information contact UOW’s Director of Buildings and Grounds, Mr Bruce Flint on (02) 4221 3905.
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