Parking Services

Parking Changes at Symons Campus In Effect for Fall 2017

Changes to parking designed to better serve Trent community

A message from Parking Services

As enrollment continues to grow, and the University constructs additional facilities in the campus core, parking facilities must be used more effectively.

Following a parking survey that was shared with the Trent community earlier this year, which received over 1,000 responses, Parking Services is responding by implementing a number of measures to better manage parking resources at the Symons campus.

Highlights of changes to parking include:

Discontinuation of blue permits and lots: With the shift in parking demands, and minimal difference in locations and distances to buildings between the red and blue permits, blue permits and lots have been removed.
No price increase for Red or Pay & Display permits; minimal increase for Green permits: At an additional $10 per semester, Green permits are now 50% of the cost of Red permits.
New East Bank Green lot: In negotiation with the City of Peterborough, Trent has obtained the use of the City ball diamond lot (an additional 43 spaces) on the East Bank of campus as a new Green lot.
Limiting overnight parking: Overnight parking will be limited to lot P (Green lot on West Bank), the south end of U lot (Gzowksi College) and the new Green lot at the baseball diamond (October to April only).
Enforcement hours: Parking will now be enforced from 6:00 a.m. (previously 8:00 a.m.) to 11:00 p.m.
Carpool spaces and passes: This new carpooling initiative encourages the reduction of single occupancy vehicles. Effective September 1, 2017, three or more drivers can register as a carpool and have a reserved carpool spot set up in the lot of their choice.

2017/18 parking permits are available now. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Once permits are sold out, a waiting list will be established. Additional permits may be released for sale if car counts indicate additional capacity. Before you choose your new parking permit, you must first register and select your permit online.

Faculty and Staff: Flexible benefits were added to Staff/Faculty cards July 2. As in previous years, if you want to apply your flex dollars towards your parking permit, DO NOT pay with your credit card online. Please visit the Parking Office in Blackburn Hall Rm. 103 with your staff card.

Current permit holders are asked to confirm all vehicle information on your account is correct. Please bring your current permit with you to the Parking Office to exchange it for your new permit.

FAQs: Parking Changes for 2017/18

Parking Services is working to serve the Trent community better. The below Q&A offers more detail on the changes to the parking at Trent’s Peterborough campus, which come in effect in fall 2017.

Q: I heard parking at Trent is changing, what is happening?

A: As enrollment continues to grow, and the University constructs additional facilities in the campus core, parking facilities must be used more effectively. Following a parking survey that was shared with the Trent community earlier this year, which received over 1,000 responses, Parking Services is responding by implementing a number of measures to better manage parking resources at the Symons campus.

Highlights of changes to parking include:

Discontinuation of blue permits and lots: With the shift in parking demands, and minimal difference in locations and distances to buildings between the red and blue permits, blue permits and lots have been removed.
No price increase for Red or Pay & Display permits; minimal increase for Green permits: At an additional $10 per semester, Green permits are now 50% of the cost of Red permits.
New East Bank Green lot: In negotiation with the City of Peterborough, Trent has obtained the use of the City ball diamond lot (an additional 43 spaces) on the East Bank of campus as a new Green lot.
Limiting overnight parking: Overnight parking will be limited to lot P (Green lot on West Bank), the south end of U lot (Gzowski College) and the new Green lot at the baseball diamond (September to April only). If the lot is unavailable due to field bookings or construction, green overnight permit holders may park in the overnight portion of U Lot or P Lot on the West Bank.
Enforcement hours: Parking will now be enforced from 6:00 a.m. (previously 8:00 a.m.) to 11:00 p.m.
Carpool spaces and passes: This new carpooling initiative encourages the reduction of single occupancy vehicles. Effective September 1, 2017, three or more drivers can register as a carpool and have a reserved carpool spot set up in the lot of their choice.

Q: Why have blue permits and lots been discontinued?

A: Blue permits have been discontinued for a number of reasons. During the busy academic year, Red permit holders park in Blue lots, displacing Blue permit holders, who then have no choice but to move to a Green lot. With current demand, this small distinction is hard to manage and results in upset for both Red and Blue permit holders. Blue lots are also only minimally further to campus buildings than most red lots. For example, the walking time from O lot to Bata Library is less than one minute longer than from M or G lot (based on average walking speed). This small difference does not warrant a price difference.

Q: Are parking permit prices increasing?

A: To offset any potential inconvenience with the loss of Blue permits, Red permits will NOT increase in price. Pay & Display rates are also not increasing. With the addition of a new Green lot on the East Bank (43 spots in the City baseball diamond lot), Green permit prices will increase slightly to 50% of Red permits. Permit prices for 2017/18 are:

Red Permit – $381.10 for the academic year
Green Permit – $190.55 for the academic year

Q: Why doesn’t the University just build a new parking lot?

A: Trent is committed to environmental sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint and will not construct new paved parking facilities at this time. Parking Services is asking all members of the Trent community to do your part by carpooling (see below) or considering alternative transportation, such as transit, biking or walking.

Q: If I choose to carpool, are there any incentives available?

A: Parking Services is excited to roll-out a new carpooling initiative to encourage the reduction in single occupancy vehicles. Effective September 1, 2017, three or more drivers can register as a carpool and receive the following benefits:

Share the cost of one carpool parking permit
Have a reserved carpool spot set up in the lot of your choice
A free day permit for each member of the carpool, in the event they bring in a second vehicle for personal reasons (e.g. appointment) that make carpooling that day not possible.

Q: If I choose to park in one of the Green lots, how can Trent help me to feel more safe walking after hours?

A: The University will be installing a new walkway to the P Green lot on the West Bank. Cameras will also be installed in all lots and lighting will be improved. All members of the Trent community are also welcomed and encouraged to use the Trent Walkhome service during the academic year.

Q: Overnight parking

A: Overnight parking, between the hours of 0200 and 0500 Monday to Friday, is only permitted in green lots and the southern end of U Lot at Trent – if you purchase a red permit, you will need to move your car on a nightly basis to one of the designated overnight parking areas. Persons wishing to park their vehicles overnight must have a valid overnight permit. The price of the permit is the same, but the permit itself will be annotated with an “O” (students) or an “EO” (employees who work between 0200 and 0500).

Q: How do these changes affect students living in residence?

A: For students living on campus or in the Annex residences on Water Street, we recommend exploring and travelling to campus and your classes by walking or biking. Alternatively, a Peterborough Transit pass is available to all undergraduate students – it’s included in your university fees. If students are bringing a car to Trent, you will require a valid overnight permit. If you require a red overnight permit to park in U Lot, please select the “Red Academic Year Residence” permit on ParkAdmin. Additional information is available on the Housing website.

Q: When can I purchase my 2017/18 permit?

A: 2017/18 parking permits are available starting Tuesday, August 1, 2017. Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Once permits are sold out, a waiting list will be established. Additional permits may be released for sale if car counts indicate additional capacity. Before you choose your new parking permit, you must first register and select your permit online.

Students: Once you have reserved your permit online, you may pick it up at the Parking Office any time after August 25, 2017.
Faculty and Staff: Flexible benefits were added to Staff/Faculty cards July 2. As in previous years, if you want to apply your flex dollars towards your parking permit, DO NOT pay with your credit card online. Please visit the Parking Office in Blackburn Hall Rm. 103 with your staff card.
Current permit holders are asked to confirm all vehicle information on your account is correct. Please bring your current permit with you to the Parking Office any time after August 1, 2017 to exchange it for your new permit. If you do not have a currently valid permit, you may pick up your permit on or after August 25, 2017.

Q: Where can I find more information about parking changes at Trent University for fall 2017, or a map of parking locations for each permit?

A: Please visit Parking website for further details.

Q: What if I have more questions?

A: Questions about changes or parking in general can be directed to parking@trentu.ca or 705-748-1011 x7324.

Welcome to Trent University. Parking Services is responsible for the planning, management, maintenance and provision of campus parking services. This includes issuing parking permits and enforcing parking regulations.

Parking Services is committed to providing excellent customer service and strives to provide well maintained services and infrastructure that meet the needs of the Trent community. Please take a moment to review the parking regulations and information provided on our website. Any questions you may have can be directed to Parking Services at 705-748-1011 x7324.

Please note that permits are required to park anywhere on campus from 6 AM to 11 PM Monday to Friday (except statutory holidays and the winter holiday University closure).

All other parking regulations are enforced 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Information Regarding the use of Wheel Clamps at Trent

The Trent University Parking Map