Changes in parking lot assignments and transit routes after the first of the year will add convenience and save time for employees who park in remote lots.
Some parkers will be reassigned to different lots, which will enable UAB to shorten and streamline bus routes throughout campus, said Andre Davis, director of Parking and Transportation. These changes, he said, are prompted by feedback from employees and students and recommendations from an ongoing parking and transit study.
“It all begins with the opening of a brand new 1,100-space surface lot on the former Alagasco service center site, expected by late December,” Davis said. The new facility, Express Lot #4, under construction on the western end of campus, north of University Boulevard, will provide parking for medical center employees, except those at Callahan Eye Hospital, effective Jan. 1, 2017.
“This will launch the new Silver route for Blazer Express,” Davis said. The route runs direct to the heart of the medical center — making only four stops — and will avoid University Boulevard entirely. The Silver route will use the current stops at Spain Rehab, Hillman, West Pavilion and Women and Infants Center. “This will shorten the length of the loop time by 10-12 minutes, which I expect everyone will welcome,” Davis said.
Bus service to Express Lot #4 will be available 5:20 a.m.-midnight Monday-Friday, and four buses will run non-stop during peak hours of 5:20 a.m.-9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.-9 p.m. with two buses available during off-peak.
Similarly, Express Lot #1 — also on the western end of campus, north of University Boulevard, will become an exclusive lot for students who commute to campus and have a Lot 15 parking permit; it can accommodate more than 400 cars. “This launches the newer, faster Purple route for Blazer Express,” Davis said. The route runs direct to the edge of campus — making stops on 13th Street near Campbell Hall/ Mini Park and across from Sterne Library. Blazer Express will service this lot 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
“University and Callahan Hospital employees who now park in Express Lot #3 will be consolidated into Express Lot #2 and a new, shorter Blue route for Blazer Express will be created that should cut the loop time approximately 10 minutes,” Davis said.
Permits
“As a result of these changes, all employees in remote parking will require new permits”, Davis said, and Parking and Transportation plans to set up stations in varying sites to begin issuing new permits to employees as early as the second week of December for their convenience. Times, dates and locations will be announced soon.
The new permits do not have to be renewed each year.
