Parking up, issues down - The Rider Newspaper

UTRGV Parking and Transportation increased the cost of most parking permits by 5% for the 2025-26 school year. The additional revenue would fund parking-lot upgrades, according to a university official.

“It helps fund ongoing improvements like resurfacing parking lots, upgrading signage that has been faded or torn or taken, adding technology such as parking lot counters … adding or supporting also the shuttle and parking-ride services,” said Pablo Aguilar, director of Parking Services.

Additionally, physical parking permits are no longer required for general parking on campus as registered license plates would act as a permit.

Aguilar said the decision was made by the Parking and Traffic Advisory Committee.

“[The committee] consists of representation from Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Facilities Management, Police Services and Parking Services. The purpose of this Committee is to a) review parking and traffic regulations, b) develop recommendations for regulation revisions, as necessary, and c) to develop an efficient parking and traffic system as it relates to differential parking zones, parking fees, penalties for violations of regulations, arrangements for bicycles, motorcycles, and pedestrian traffic,” according to the Parking and Transportation website.

Aguilar added one of the biggest improvements made recently was the complete resurfacing of Lot E-33 near the Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.

Abigail Carrizales, an environmental science junior, said the increase would feel justified with more parking spaces and more shade.

Aguilar said Zone 1 permits will remain at $60 and encourages students to take advantage of the “best value” permit.

“Those remote areas don’t really get enough people, enough parkers, so that’s the one big thing that I would recommend,” he said. “Students, take advantage of Zone 1. Why? Because the VOLT carts. If you park further, if you park there, they’ll still bring you closer to the campus core.”

For more information, visit the Parking and Transportation website.

—Mariah Escobar contributed to this report.