New Parking System Aims to Encourage Carpooling at ULL

The single most useful takeaway: Starting this month, ULL will prioritize parking for carpoolers in 13 campus car parks, which could impact access for solo drivers even when spaces are available.

What's Changing

The University of La Laguna (ULL) is implementing a new parking access system aimed at promoting car sharing among students and staff. This initiative, which will be rolled out across 13 university car parks, will see a portion of parking spaces reserved for high-occupancy vehicles. While this means that individuals arriving alone might be denied entry even if spots are available, those in shared vehicles will have guaranteed access.

How It Will Work

Marta Domínguez Herrera, ULL's Vice-Rector for Sustainability and Infrastructure, explains that the system will use automated access barriers where users must pre-register their vehicle and indicate their mode of transport. The ULL plans to incorporate a mobile app provided by the Cabildo de Tenerife to help users find carpooling partners and verify shared journeys through geolocation.

Initial estimates suggest that 10-20% of parking spaces will be reserved for high-occupancy vehicles. These spaces won't be physically marked; priority will apply at entry, and authorised vehicles can find parking within available spots. The minimum number of occupants needed to qualify for priority is still to be defined, potentially ranging from two to three.

Impact on the Community

The initiative is not limited to students; the ULL aims to accommodate the entire university community, including faculty and staff. However, this change will require adjustments to current regulations, which could affect the management of reserved spaces. Construction is set to begin this month, with a preparatory meeting scheduled for September 10 before civil works commence. The physical installation will occur first, followed by the complex task of data entry and system integration. The ULL expects the construction to be completed by December, leading into a testing phase across different campuses.

The project includes automation at 13 car parks, such as the Technical Architecture School and various faculty buildings. The total budget for this automation initiative stands at €449,620.88, supported by a €530,000 grant from the Cabildo of Tenerife for the installation of smart barriers and the promotion of car sharing.

While the transition aims to alleviate parking congestion, Domínguez acknowledges it may cause some disruption initially. However, she maintains that the need for change is critical given the severe parking limitations at certain campuses.