Washington University released its updated parking plan for the 2019-2020 school year, which includes expanding access to parking to sophomores and students living in non-University owned off-campus housing April 24.

Starting this fall, sophomores will be able to purchase a parking pass for the first time since the temporary ban was implemented in fall 2017. Students living on the South 40 will be able to purchase a yellow permit for the Wallace garage and those in the Village will be able to purchase one for the Snow Way garage. Students in the Lofts will have a Lofts permit included in their rent, but will also be able to purchase a permit for the Snow Way garage.

Dedric Carter, vice chancellor for operations and technology transfer, said the decision was made mainly due to the East End garage opening.

“At a certain point you say, ‘What does our community need?’ and if our community needs something and the restrictions allow it, then let’s make sure we meet the community needs,” Carter said. “If sophomores want to park on campus and have the space with the opening of the East End, then let’s think if there is any good reason we shouldn’t remove the temporary restriction, and there was no good reason.”

Gaby Smith, a rising sophomore, is excited about how this will expand opportunities for sophomores to explore beyond the St. Louis community outside of Washington University.

“It’s an exciting prospect for sophomore students who have a car or have a desire to use a car, whether that be to get off campus for certain commitments or activities they may have or to drive home if they live driving distance from the University,” Smith said.

The new parking plan will also give all upperclassmen, including students living off-campus in non-University owned housing, the ability to purchase a yellow parking pass for every zone on campus except for the East End garage.

“It’s really great that they are opening up parking to students that don’t live on campus, because it’s important that if they can’t afford university housing, they are still able to have transportation to campus and park on campus,” Smith said.

“It’s especially relevant to upperclassmen who have evening exams and commitments or who may not have the time in the day to go back to their apartment and grab their car and park during evening parking hours. When I hold review sessions I have to do that, and it would be nice to be able to go directly to school in the morning rather than walk back home at night,” Emily Dewald-Wang, a current senior who lives off-campus in non-University owned housing, said.

The plan also outlines another price hike for all yellow permits. Prices have increased from $795 in the current academic year to $852, a seven percent increase.

“We are adding and maintaining services, including a shuttle to north campus, to the 560 [Music Building] [and] to West Campus. We are extending the hours of the circulator,” Carter said. “We are trying our best to make sure that we add good services that meet the community’s needs, but also try to keep it within a reasonable cost to folks.”

The East End garage will be open May 17 to accommodate people arriving on campus for the Commencement ceremony, but will close again until the summer ends.

“We’re going to be opening the garage manually just for Commencement to allow for parking,” Carter said. “We will have a burn-in period, which is a test, for anyone with a valid permit in the second half of July. Then on Aug. 1, the new plan will be in place.”

Carter also stated that the East End construction project, with the exception of McKelvey Hall, is projected to be open to the public by Commencement

“Everything is a go to make sure everything is nice and staged so that we can use the area as it should be,” Carter said. “Everything up to McKelvey is going to look very nice.”