Four campus units that will celebrate significant anniversaries will be featured on next year’s parking permits. The College of Engineering will celebrate 150 years, the Michigan Union and School of Natural Resources and Environment will reach the century mark, and the Michigan League will be 75 years old.

“We’re pleased to be able to showcase four momentous University achievements on next year’s permits,” says Pat Cunningham, director of Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS). “This will be the first time in many years we’ve incorporated building pictures on our permits, and who better to highlight than these successful units?”

Applications for parking permits for July 2003-June 2004 are scheduled to arrive this week in home mailboxes of this year’s permit holders. The deadline to submit completed applications in order to receive new permits by mail is May 5. Permits will be available through walk-in sales at the P&TS office in the Thompson Street parking structure (508 Thompson St.).

“Since 1996 when we first introduced the multiple-tier permit system, we’ve designed the permits to emphasize the color,” says Rebecca Seiser, Parking Services office manager. “We think people are used to the color system now, so we’ve chosen to make the permits more visually appealing.”

In addition to the four anniversary units featured on the gold, blue, yellow and orange permits, the University’s two carillons, Burton Memorial Tower and Lurie Tower, will be pictured on the non-color-coded permits for business vehicles and loading zones.

Michigan League Director Bob Yecke says, “The Michigan League is the only facility built on a coeducational campus for women by women, and so we’re excited about our upcoming anniversary. We appreciate the staff at Parking and Transportation Services recognizing our milestone.”

The parking permit application also formally introduces the University parking system’s newest technology. Employees submitting applications for blue and gold permits will have the opportunity to request an Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) device. Permit holders who park in the Forest Street parking structure or gated gold areas are familiar with the new technology which uses a device, commonly called a tag, that is placed in the vehicle windshield to authorize access into a gated area of a structure or surface parking lot.

These devices, which are about the size of a thick credit card, also are used at high-speed toll booths on some highways and make access control efficient because no cards have to be swiped or displayed. Communication between the tag and the gate at the structure is automatic.

The AVI technology has been implemented successfully in most gold parking areas as well as the Forest structure. P&TS staff will implement the AVI system in campus parking structures (blue permit areas) throughout the next academic year, one structure at a time.

“We’ve been slowly working through the nuances of the new AVI technology,” Cunningham says, “so we don’t simply implement a bunch of problems. We know people don’t want to waste any time with a faulty parking system. Once we finish the implementation, however, people will find it very efficient. The entrance signs tell approaching drivers whether there are available spaces in the structure, and the sensor reads the AVI devices, quickly allowing drivers to move along.”

Current AVI device holders simply will renew their parking option by submitting completed applications and their method of payment. Their existing device will be reprogrammed remotely from the P&TS office for the next year. Confirmation of AVI parking renewals will be sent by e-mail.

“Blue permit holders who park in campus structures can pay their one-time $20 deposit for their AVI device now, and it also will serve as their permit in non-converted structures,” Seiser says. “Or they can wait until we convert their structure, and we’ll exchange their permit for a device at that time.”

Parking permit fees can be paid by cash, check, credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Discover), or through pre-tax payroll deduction.

“With payroll deduction, the permit-holder pays with pre-tax dollars and can choose the number of payments they want to divide their fees,” Seiser says.

Employee permit rates for 2003-04 increased 4.5 percent to $1,000 for gold, $500 for blue, $115 for yellow and $57 for orange. Campus units also contribute $112 for each permit sold to their employees.

For additional information regarding parking permits, visit http://www.parking.umich.edu or call (734) 764-8291.