FAQ General Parking Answers
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How may people drive to campus daily? |
Approximately 24,000.
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| How many parking spaces are there on campus? |
Approximately 20,000.
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Where can I park? |
You can choose from 5 garages, 8 ramps, 133 surface lots and 369 University meters, plus a number of city meters.
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Where is the best place to park on campus? |
Your preference may be determined by price or time allotment. You may choose from hourly or daily facilities, meters, carpool lots or parking contracts. We highly recommend that drivers seek parking near where you plan to exit campus to avoid driving through traffic congestion.
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Where can I park my car overnight? |
Here are 3 options.
(Not available when the facility is accommodating event parking. Use the Event Calendar to plan ahead.)
- Free Night & Sunday Parking – Enter after 8 pm and exit before 8 am, Monday-Saturday. Parking is free all day Sunday. Offered at 4th Street Ramp, 21st Avenue Ramp and Gortner Avenue Ramp.
- Evening Off-Peak ($6.00) – Rate is good only between the hours of 5 pm and 7 am, Monday-Friday or all day Saturday and Sunday. Offered at East River Road Garage, 19th Avenue Ramp, Lot 86 and Lot S106.
- Standard Off-Peak ($6.00) – Enter before 7 am or after 5 pm, Monday-Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday. Rate covers the first 24-hours only. Offered at 4th Street Ramp, Oak Street Ramp (begins after 2 pm), 21st Avenue Ramp and Gortner Avenue Ramp.
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Is there disability parking on campus? |
Yes. A State of Minnesota disability permit or license plate is required to park in any designated disability parking space. Signed disability parking spaces can be found in all public/visitor parking facilities at the posted rate. You may park free at campus meters and signed on-street locations for a maximum of three hours. After three hours, meter patrons much either relocate their vehicle or pay the posted meter rate.
Find disability parking.
To apply for a disability permit, call the State of Minnesota at 651-296-6911 or University Disability Services at 612-624-4037.
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Where can I park my motorcycle? |
- Motorcycle parking areas have been designated throughout campus. View campus maps
- Secure a parking spot by purchasing a motorcycle parking contract at the PTS main office.
- Motorcycles may park in any daily or hourly parking facility and pay the posted rate.
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Where do students who live in residence halls park? |
Each residence hall (with the exception of University Village) receives a limited number of contract parking spaces for its residents. The spaces are available 24/7. To receive a parking space, students must enter an online lottery each semester.
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I got a parking ticket. Now what do I do? |
The University of Minnesota Police Department patrols all campus parking facilities and issues tickets for parking violations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have a dispute over a parking violation, contact UMPD by calling the number listed on the ticket or the University parking citation hotline at 612-626-4446.
Parking tickets are processed through the county where the violation occurred. The Twin Cities campus is located in two counties, Hennepin and Ramsey, so check your ticket for information.
UMPD Parking Citation information
Hennepin County Violations Bureau – 612-348-2040
Ramsey County Violations Bureau – 651-266-9202
To report defective meters, first note the meter type, then contact the appropriate party ASAP.
University of Minnesota – 612-626-7275
City of Minneapolis (including Park Board meters along East River Road) – 612-348-2040
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Why does it cost more to park in a ramp or garage? |
Rates for ramps and garages are set at a higher base to offset higher costs from two major sources: it costs more to maintain this type of facility and the initial outlay in funds to build the facility is much greater. With a higher initial outlay also comes a greater debt load that the department carries and must pay off over time.
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Why have parking rates increased? |
Parking and Transportation Services is a self-supporting department. We do not receive central funding from the institution beyond the student transportation fee. Consequently, parking revenues are the primary support for most department services, including the operation and maintenance of our facilities.
Over the past several years, a significant amount of surface parking on the Twin Cities campus has been lost due to construction. Because of land limitations, the department replaced the lost parking with ramps and garages which are 10-20 times more costly than surface lots. Consequently, campus has seen steady increases in parking rates to offset principle and interest payments on these facilities. These payments will continue for the next 20 years. Additionally, structural repair costs for upkeep on older facilities have increased significantly in recent years.
Before adjusting the parking rates, PTS conducts market research to compare U of M parking rates to market standards. The university fee structure currently resides below local rates and is in line nationally with other universities.
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