Parking in downtown Edmonton can be a struggle, especially for MacEwan University students who rely on driving to get to campus. One option is to buy a parking permit at one of the lots the university offers, but prices range from $110 to $245, depending on the lot type and any accessibility needs. However, these monthly parking permits sold out on Aug. 4, weeks before the start of the fall semester, and remain sold out, with long waitlists remaining as of September.
With more students expected to arrive on campus with the opening of the new Building 12, the university is planning for additional parking spaces. In the meantime, MacEwan Transportation Services will continue to collaborate with off-campus parking providers to make more parking options available to students.
“transportation needs will remain important considerations in campus planning and future development.”
– MacEwan University
From a student’s perspective, the availability and cost of parking in and around MacEwan can be frustrating. With changing temperatures, travel times, and safety concerns, driving can be a preferred option for students with access to a vehicle.
Hadley Saunders, a third-year student at MacEwan University, has access to an off-campus parking lot that has suited her needs during her time at the school. However, after her schedule changed to include later classes, she has found it more difficult to find a spot before certain lots fill up.
Saunders also said the high monthly costs for parking on and around campus can be expensive for students. She would “rather take transit (1 hour one way) than pay the crazy fee of parking elsewhere.”
Other students choose to park farther away from campus in residential areas where free street parking is available. This can crowd nearby streets, making it more difficult for residents to find parking near their homes.
Parking remains a difficult issue around MacEwan, with limited space downtown and high demand from students, staff, and others in the surrounding community. As the university continues to grow, parking and other transportation options remain part of the conversation around how students get to and from campus.
