Letter to the UMass Dartmouth Community about Parking Decals
Dear UMass Dartmouth Community:
The Department of Public Safety, through its police, security, and parking employees, stands ready to provide a system of safe, orderly, and comprehensive parking and transportation to our community. We are making changes to how parking permits will be obtained, improvements to the Dart Van service, and other infrastructure enhancements over the next few months in order to better serve you and to make parking and transportation more efficient and customer friendly. Here are the highlights of changes.
Parking and Transportation Consultant
The University has contracted with Howard Stein and Hudson to provide Parking and Transportation consulting services. Our initial focus will be to look at suggestions for security, shuttle and transportation services, sustainability and technology improvements.
Enforcement and New Look for Decals
All vehicles on campus must have a new decal as of the first day of classes, September 2, 2008. Parking enforcement will begin on that day. You can expect a heightened level of enforcement, and vehicles with expired or no decals will be cited.
Due to problems encountered last year with hangtags, we are using a decal system that will incorporate a barcode and hologram to discourage theft and improper use. With new barcode scanner and reader technology, we will be able to check decal status and outstanding fines more effectively and provide a more effective system of enforcement.
Obtaining Decals
All decal applications must be completed online regardless of your status as a student, faculty, or staff person. We are doing this in order to collect information that is more easily retrieved and to expedite the process.
In an effort to eliminate long lines and the inconvenience of obtaining permits in person, we are moving to online payment for parking permits. The University is currently equipped to handle either Mastercard or Visa but is not prepared to debit from a checking account.
Persons completing their application and making payment online prior to August 15, 2008 will avoid standing in line; decals will be mailed to your home address before the start of the fall semester. By using your UMassD logon (email username and password), you will be directed to the appropriate section of the site based on your status as a Commuter, Residential or PCE student, or faculty/staff member. You will need to enter your operator's license and motor vehicle information, so have this information handy before you sign in.
Applications for decals that are made after Aug. 15 will still use the online credit card payment option, but decals will not be mailed. You will be directed to print a receipt and to bring this to campus to collect your decal at the Parking Office in Elmwood Hall.
Dart Van
The past year has shown a dramatic increase in use of our Dart Van and Shuttle Services. With increased ridership experienced with the reopening of the Cedar Dell apartments, we will be adding a dedicated route from Cedar Dell to the Campus Center. With anticipated increases for fuel costs, we are expecting additional use of our internal and external shuttle services. We are in the process of purchasing an additional airline-type shuttle bus for our fleet. Please check for updated schedules on the Public Safety web site.
