Wednesday, May 29, 1996
New, high-tech parking system may be a ‘plus’ for many campus
commutersBy Toni Dimayuga
Daily Bruin Contributor
Hi-tech, futuristic gadgets reminiscent of "Mission: Impossible"
will soon be appearing at a UCLA parking lot near you.
In an effort to improve current parking conditions,
Transportation Services has begun installing the Bruin Park Plus
access system in all campus parking structures.
The project, which began on May 10, is the culmination of two
years evaluating UCLA’s parking situation, explained Penny Menton,
associate director of Transportation Services.
Beginning operation on July 1, Bruin Park Plus is an elaborate
system meant to efficiently create more parking spaces.
The new system contains a number of state-of-the-art features.
In addition to new gates, magnetic stripe tickets will take the
place of tokens for those who park daily. Underground detection
loops will count cars entering and exiting from parking areas and
alert officials to filled lots.
Proximity cards, replacing current key cards, will allow permit
holders to enter the parking area by waving their permits in front
of an electronic reader.
In addition, an intercom linked to the Parking and Commuter
Services office will be provided for those who experience any
difficulties with the new system.
The $5 to $6 million project will be paid off over the next six
to nine years, Menton said. She explained that over time, the
system will pay for itself due to the creation of additional
spaces.
There will not be any additional increases due to the project,
Menton emphasized, and next year’s parking permit fee increase has
nothing to do with Bruin Park Plus.
The additions will be unveiled in two phases, explained
Katherine Todd, Project Manager of Bruin Park Plus. Equipment will
first be installed and later linked to the new additions  via
an electronic network  to a centralized computer system in
Lot 8.
Many students anticipated the arrival of the new parking
equipment and believe it will improve parking services.
"Before, it seems like when I park in there, they’re giving away
spaces that aren’t really there. I’ll go in the lot and everything
will be full," said Kyle Nagata, a fourth-year sociology
student.
To counter this dilemma, the detection loops  a system of
underground sensors  will provide information on space
availability. As a result, parking attendants will be able to tell
drivers whether or not spaces are available at that moment in their
desired lots.
Others understood the frustration their fellow students have
with current conditions and believed Bruin Park Plus will be an
improvement.
"I know it’s a hassle for my friends with their little cards
sticking it into that thing  that slot. So it seems easier
and faster," said Lisette Macias, a first-year biology student.
Despite the number of positive responses, other students
believed the upcoming access system won’t alleviate the existing
crowding problem.
"I don’t think it’s going to improve conditions. They’re already
bad enough as it is. There’s not enough parking, period, so I don’t
know how it’s going to help," said Kira Molas, a fourth-year
sociology student.
Nagata, who is graduating soon, regretted that he will not be
able to experience Bruin Park Plus.
"I wish they would have had it when I was using it."
For more information on Bruin Park Plus, call Parking and
Commuter Services at (310) 206-PARK.
Construction crews at Structure 3 install electronic equipment
which will count the number of cars entering and leaving, alerting
staff when the structure fills.
Manuel Reos and Ramon Contreras pour cement on the parking
median in Structure 5 as part of the multi-million dollar Bruin
Park Plus project. The new wiring will connect each gate to the
information booth via intercoms.