Parking & Transportation is doing its part to help ease the pain of salary and budget reductions for UC staff and departments.

We may be in a recession, but we’re all in it together at Cal: what P&T is doing to help

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION COST-SAVING INITIATES FOR EMPLOYEES:

PERMIT PRICE REDUCTIONS

In light of the current furloughs and salary reductions, Parking & Transportation is going to roll back all affiliate annual parking permit rates by roughly 8% from the current 2009-10 rates. The rate decrease will apply to all affiliate annual parking permits (faculty, staff, emeriti, students, and departmental parking permits) starting September 1st, 2009, and will be in effect through June 30, 2010. For faculty and staff there is no need to do anything – the reduction is automatic. You will see the payroll deduction change starting October 1st. Customers who prepaid their permits will be issued refunds.

BEAR PASS PRICE REDUCTION

Bear Pass holders will also benefit from a price reduction. The Bear Pass rate for the remainder of the 2009-2010 year is now $34 per month. The new reduced monthly payroll deduction will be on your October 1st paycheck. With the local AC Transit monthly pass costing $80 ($132 if you travel Transbay), a $34 Bear Pass is a huge cost savings. Give it a try. If a Bear Pass doesn’t work for you, you can cancel it at any time. The Bear Pass is now part of Clipper Card (formely TransLink), giving you even more transportation flexibility.

PARK AT THE FOOTHILL LOT TO SAVE MONEY

The permit type designation for the Foothill Lot has changed. You can now park at the Foothill Lot with a less expensive “H” (Hill) permit. If you are a “C” permit holder and usually park in the Upper Hearst Structure for example, you can save $57 each month by exchanging your permit for an “H” permit and parking only a few minutes farther away. So get some exercise, enjoy a walk on the path through the trees from the Foothill parking lot, and save some money.

SAVE MONEY BY CARPOOLING

Carpool permit prices have also been reduced. An “F” carpool permit now costs just $29 per month. You can carpool with any UC carpool permit holder – F, C, or student. If you need help finding a carpool buddy go to the 511.org website. Parking & Transportation is also working on a UC carpool match program. Check back for details.

GUARANTEED RIDE HOME PROGRAM

UC is a participant in the Guaranteed Ride Home Program. If you take public transit, carpool, bike, or walk to work, the Guaranteed Ride Home Program guarantees you a ride home from work when unexpected circumstances arise.

You can feel comfortable taking the bus or carpooling knowing that you will have a ride home in case of illness, family crisis, unscheduled overtime, or a missed carpool trip. The Guaranteed Ride Home Program is a commuter benefit available free of charge. By providing "insurance" for your commute, we encourage you to take advantage of the reduced-rate Bear Pass and carpooling options.

For more information about this program please go to Guaranteed Ride Home Website.

FINANCIAL HELP TO THE CAMPUS

In addition to price reductions to help UC employees, Parking & Transportation has transferred $1.9 million from reserves to assist other campus departments in this dire financial time. It is our hope that this contribution can help reduce layoffs across campus.