University of North Texas Integrated Transportation Strategy and Parking

December 21, 2006:

In August 2005, the UNT System Board of Regents approved the University of North Texas Denton Campus Master Plan – 2005. Included within the 2005 Master Plan is a section titled "Integrated Transportation Strategy and Parking" which states the institution's goals, strategies, and plans for transportation and parking on pages 75-91. You may locate a copy of the 2005 Master Plan at www.unt.edu/untmasterplan. You are encouraged to read and review the entire plan since it will be our guide for many future initiatives.

Parking is merely one component of creating a balanced and integrated program of transportation options which best meet the needs of the University of North Texas. Our mission is "education" - not "parking." Our goal, as stated in the plan, is "to provide integrated transportation and parking demand strategies for the campus which coordinates pedestrian, bicycle, transit, vehicular circulation and parking." What does this mean to you and me?

As we move forward, the plan indicates that we will...
  • Improve the overall pedestrian circulation network and coordinate the network with campus bicycle routes and the transit system
  • Provide safe bicycle routes within the campus and coordinate those routes with the City of Denton’s bicycle routes and master plan
  • Provide user-friendly alternative transportation options to the university community that lead to a reduction in the need for single-occupancy vehicle trips.
  • Work to reduce the overall demand for parking through alternative transportation options and transportation demand management strategies for all user groups.
  • Gradually relocate parking to the campus perimeter from the campus core to reflect the reality that close-in parking is not the highest and best use for valuable land in the campus core.
  • Develop appropriate perimeter and remote parking sites and structures which link to other campus transportation options.

    • Parking is a challenge on every major university campus. At UNT we are fortunate that we have adequate parking for our needs; however, as we grow we will continue to move toward an integrated transportation infrastructure, not merely more parking, and more parking, and more parking.

    In order to achieve the objectives noted above, we will make necessary modifications to the parking rules and regulations, rate structures, transit system, alternative transit options, pedestrian routes, and bicycle pathways to optimize use of resources and meet the needs of our growing and dynamic university.