- University of Utah trustees last week approved a bond for 1,500 underground parking spaces.
- Construction begins this summer near Jon M. Huntsman Center, completing in 20-24 months.
- Together with additional projects, the U. aims to increase campus parking by over 2,000 spaces.
SALT LAKE CITY — When the University of Utah announced changes regarding class scheduling, an Instagram post from the school inadvertently set off a social media-fueled discourse surrounding parking availability on campus last September.
"Unfortunately, a poorly framed social media post from the university suggested this initiative is focused on alleviating parking constraints on campus. That is not accurate," an email sent to students said. "The original post details the background on this effort, which is designed to reduce the uneven distribution of classes to reduce course bottlenecks, improve student success, shorten times to graduation and ease congestion in course and space planning and tangentially, parking."
While the university moved to clarify the motivation for the change, much of the talk remained focused on parking — with U. spokeswoman Rebecca Walsh acknowledging the shortage amid a small but spirited student-led protest, telling KSL the university had its sights set on some soon-to-be-announced parking upgrades.
Last week, the university released more details about those plans after the university's board of trustees approved a bond measure to fund an underground parking structure that will add approximately 1,500 spaces to campus.
Construction on the site — located "just west" of the Jon M. Huntsman Center — is scheduled to begin this summer and completion of the 1,500 subterranean stalls is expected to be completed within 20 to 24 months, according to a release from the university.
Additionally, the facility will feature two to three levels and be located beneath future housing, dining and retail spaces on campus.
"It's a balanced approach," Collin Simmons, executive director of auxiliary and commuter services, said in a statement. "You have to invest in mass transit, parking and alternative modes like scooters, bicycles and pedestrian walkways. This plan considers all those options."
The announcement follows the board's vote to use $116.3 million, authorized by the Utah Legislature, to expand parking and provide free public transit for students and employees.
While the U.'s trustees are on board with the move, the proposal still has to go through the Utah Board of Higher Education for final approval.
"We need to provide parking for students, staff and faculty daily, as well as for events at the Huntsman Center and new College Town Magic venues," Simmons added. "It will be functional parking for everyone."
In addition to the 1,500 underground lots, the university said it aims to repurpose land at the historic Fort Douglas site to add several hundred additional stalls over the next few years. Total campus capacity is expected to increase by more than 2,000 spaces, according to the U.
