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Parking Permit Renewal Begins June 10

Rates to rise from under $1 to $17.50 per month

As Duke continues to enhance a variety of parking facilities across campus, the price to park will increase this year to help maintain infrastructure upgrades and assist with building additional parking capacity.

Beginning in August, rates for parking permits will increase from under $1 to $17.50 per month, depending on permit type. The change in price will affect all permits for students, faculty and staff with the average increase for employee permits growing about $7 a month. (Scroll down to see a full chart of price adjustments.)

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"In the past year, we've begun to take necessary steps to address deferred maintenance and upgrade several parking lots and garages, along with creating additional capacity over the next several years, and funding is needed to help support these changes," said Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for administration. "These are all steps to ensure we have contemporary parking management technology and work to simplify our rate structure."

Since February, Duke has rolled out technological upgrades for the University and Health System that use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology for parking lot access. With this system, a special RFID tag affixed to a vehicle offers a hands-free mode of parking by raising a gate for a motorist without a Duke community member reaching out to swipe a permit. This system will also allow Duke to analyze usage data to consider short-term and occasional-use parking options, among other programs.

Other projects include:

  • New camera systems to provide increased safety and security across all garages.
  • Investments in a gated lot on Hillsborough Road that will increase the number of available spaces, improve lighting and pave the lot.
  • Ongoing renovations to Parking Garage II on Erwin Road. Duke is investing $9 million to resurface driving and parking areas, add guardrails, replace light fixtures and more.
  • Planning for a new garage off of NC 751.

In addition to upgrades for lots and garages, Duke has focused on its options for sustainable commuting.

A recent survey conducted by Parking and Transportation Services shows that 71 percent of employees who completed the survey drive by themselves to work, down from 85 percent in 2004. As the percentage of solo drivers goes down, other modes of travel are up over that time period, with increases in use of public transit, bicycling and walking.

"We're encouraged to see that people are interested in using new modes of transportation and shifting their behavior," said Alison Carpenter, manager of Duke's transportation demand management program. "It reflects the work we're trying to do by introducing and informing people about all their commuting options."

Duke community members using alternative transportation are eligible for benefits like two free daily parking passes a month in case they need to drive to campus. Commuters can also purchase up to 20 daily parking passes per year for $4 each.

Here is a full listing of price changes for employee parking: