Contractor Parking Policy

Title: Contractor Parking Policy
Policy Owner: Planning Architectural & Engineering Services and Parking Services
Applies to: Contractors, Construction Managers and Workers
Campus Applicability: Storrs and Depot Campuses
Effective Date: January 2016
For More Information, Contact Parking Services
Contact Information: (860) 486-4930
Official Website: park.uconn.edu

Reason for Policy

Parking capacity on UConn’s Storrs campus is very limited and highly demanded.  Parking privileges on the Storrs campus must therefore be judiciously allocated among institutional stakeholders and contractors to maximize the benefits to each.

Applies to

This policy applies to all general and trade contractors, construction managers, trucking and delivery drivers and workers while conducting University-contracted business at the Storrs and Depot Campuses.

DEFINITIONS OF VEHICLE TYPES

Personal Vehicle

A personal (or worker) vehicle is one that is owned by an individual and primarily used to transport an individual or a group of individuals to and from a worksite or place of employment.

Contractor Vehicle

A contractor vehicle is one that is owned by a business and is primarily used for business.  Examples of contractor vehicles include pick-up trucks, work vans or company cars upon which the business identification is permanently displayed.

Construction Equipment

Construction equipment is a vehicle that is owned, leased or rented by a University-contracted business primarily for use on a construction site to perform specific construction work or specific construction activity.  Examples of construction equipment include cranes, mobile cranes, backhoes, front-loaders and rollers.

Construction Delivery Vehicles

A delivery vehicle is one that is primarily used to transport materials or personnel to or from a worksite. Examples of delivery vehicles include dump trucks, tractor trailers, flatbed trailers and shuttles.

GENERAL PARKING POLICIES

All contractor or personal vehicles that are parked at the University of Connecticut’s Storrs campus, Mansfield Depot campus, Bergin Property or any other University property are required to obtain and conspicuously display a University parking permit.  Parking permits and their associated parking privileges are specifically issued either to an individual worker or a contractor.  Although those parking privileges are for the assigned holder, the physical permits may be moved between vehicles and may be used either by the assigned permit holder or a designee.  Any vehicle that does not display a valid parking permit will be subject to ticketing and/or towing at the vehicle owner’s expense.  Egregious or repeated parking policy violations can also lead to the suspension, withdrawal or withholding of parking permits and privileges at the University’s sole discretion.  Parking by contractors or workers at the North Garage or South Garage, or overnight parking of personal or contractor vehicles on University property is prohibited, unless previously approved by the University Representative in conjunction with Parking Services.

Location of Parking for Workers

During the University’s academic year, from mid-August to mid-May, workers can request and receive parking permits for personal vehicles in designated parking areas on the Mansfield Depot campus and the Bergin Property.  These two locations are located on State Route 44 and are approximately two miles from the main Storrs campus.  Parking permits that authorize parking on the Mansfield Depot campus and Bergin Property will be issued to contractors and workers at no-charge and may be used in personal or contractor vehicles.  Parking permits are issued on a space-available and first-come, first-served basis.  There is no personal vehicle parking on the main Storrs campus for workers during the University’s academic year, except as specified herein.

During the University’s summer term (mid-May to mid-August), workers can request and receive no-charge parking permits for personal vehicles at designated parking lots at the perimeter of the main Storrs campus on a space available basis.  University Parking Services will assign separate and distinct contractor parking permits based on availability at locations in closer proximity to worksites, most typically on student parking lots such as Lots C, W and X.

Permitting Process

All parking permits can be obtained at the University’s Parking Services office located at 3 Discovery Drive in Storrs, CT.  The Parking Services office is open on all non-holiday business days, typically from 8am to 4:30pm.  Parking Services can be reached by telephone at (860) 486-4930 and by email sent to parkingservices@uconn.edu.

In order to obtain a parking permit, the University requires a valid driver’s license, current vehicle registration and proof of automobile insurance.  Parking permits are issued for a fixed term and any associated fees must be paid at the time of permit issuance.  Parking permits provided free of charge or purchased are typically issued for periods of one or more months, one or two semesters, or for one year (12 months).  Each calendar year is divided into three semesters: Spring semester (January – May), Fall semester (August-December), and Summer semester (June – August).  An expiration date for all University parking permits are established at the time of their issuance.  Permit holders are responsible for obtaining new parking permits prior to their expiry date when the extension of their privileges is needed.

An administrative Lost Permit fee of $20 must be paid before a replacement will be issued.  The fee will be incurred whenever a lost permit is replaced and irrespective of its original purchase price.  The lost permit will be expired before its replacement is issued and cannot be reused if it is subsequently found.  If a permit that is reported as lost is found to be in use, it will be considered stolen and the University will act accordingly.

Transportation

It is the workers and/or the Contractor’s responsibility to arrange for transportation between the parking areas and the worksites when needed.  Use of the University shuttle bus system by workers for daily transportation is prohibited.

The Contractor may provide shuttle services for workers if it deems it necessary or desirable.  Shuttles shall not be parked on University property overnight unless there is prior approval from the University Representative in conjunction with Parking Services and the daytime shuttle bus parking location, whether operating or unattended, must have prior approval from the University Representative in conjunction with Parking Services.

Perimeter Lot Parking During the Academic Year

Contractors may request parking for personal or contractor vehicles in closer proximity to the worksite on a perimeter student parking lot during the academic year for the fee of $50.00 per month, payable in advance of the permit issuance.  These types of permits may be purchased for up to a six month period.  Perimeter lot parking permits are subject to availability and provide parking only on the specified lot.  These exceptional requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and decisions will be predicated on factors related both to the project and the efficient operation of the University’s parking system.

Day Permits

Construction workers or contractors who are only on worksites infrequently may request day parking permit for their personal or contractor vehicles.  Infrequent is defined as coming to campus no more than once a week.  The cost of a day parking permit is $12.00 per day, payable in advance of the permit issuance.  Day parking permits authorize parking in a specific parking lot and will be issued on a space-available basis.   Day parking permits generally authorize parking in close proximity to the worksite when possible and their privileges may include specific University employee and/or student parking locations.  At the University’s discretion, day permit issuance may be suspended to any Contractor should the Worker or Company request a day permit more frequently than what is permitted.

Limits of Liability 

Workers and Contractors with parking permits should recognize that the lighting in parking lots varies greatly between locations, and that the permit holder accepts the conditions of the lots in “as is” condition.  The University provides no security in the parking lots and makes no representations regarding the security of the premises.  All Workers and Contractors park and use the lots at their own risk and the University is not responsible for any damages or theft that occur to vehicles or persons while utilizing the parking permits or lots.    The Contractor and/or Worker shall be responsible for any damage or harm it causes to others or to the property of others and for any damage it causes to University property (excepting normal wear and tear from use of the parking lots.

SITE-SPECIFIC PARKING POLICIES

Parking of Vehicles inside the Perimeter of a Worksite

The University understands that a certain number of vehicles are required on worksites in order to conduct the work.  However, the University does not support and will actively work to prevent oversizing the perimeter of a worksite in order to accommodate daily worker parking inside the worksite.  This is particularly true when a project’s site logistics plans specify the use or loss of University parking capacity.  The parking of personal vehicles on a worksite is highly discouraged, and only contractor vehicles, construction equipment and delivery vehicles should be on the worksite.

Construction equipment parked on the worksite does not require a parking permit.  If not in use, the long-term storage of construction equipment on worksites or University property without specific written permission by the University representative and Parking Services is prohibited.  Construction equipment is expected to remain on the designated worksite within the perimeter of the worksite.

Contractor vehicles making occasional or periodic material deliveries or being used in conjunction with specific work on the worksite do not require a parking permit when they are idle within the perimeter of a worksite.  Parking permits must be displayed in delivery vehicles used to transport materials to a worksite if they require parking outside the perimeter of the worksite after unloading.

Parking of Vehicles at Construction Field Offices

For each worksite, the primary general contractor or construction manager may request up to three (3) worksite parking permits for contractor vehicles to park at construction trailers.  There is no cost for these three (3) worksite parking permits and these permits allow the parking of contractor vehicles for administration of the project.  The three worksite parking permits are intended to satisfy the needs of the contractors and subcontractors combined on most projects.

For large projects, the general contractor or construction manager may need additional worksite parking permits for contractor vehicles associated with the administration of a project.  These additional contractor vehicles are intended to be situated adjacent to a project field office.  Requests for additional permits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the University Representative in conjunction with Parking Services.  Additional contractor parking permits will be issued at the sole discretion of the University.  If any additional worksite parking permits (beyond the above-mentioned three no-charge contractor permits) are approved for parking contractor vehicles adjacent to field offices (or elsewhere as authorized by the University Representative and Parking Services), each permit will cost $50.00/month, payable in advance of their issuance. When bidding work, Contractor shall not assume such increase in allowable worksite parking permits will be granted.

Worksite Logistics Considerations

When reviewing the site logistics for a project, and determining the perimeter of a worksite, non-construction equipment parking capacity should be excluded or minimized to the extent possible.  The use of parking capacity for the long-term storage of material is strongly discouraged.  If any existing parking areas are to be utilized during construction, the contractor shall take photographs of the area prior to utilization and restore the areas to “like new” condition, including the parking surfaces, curbs, sidewalks, lawn, soil de-compaction, plantings and any other surrounding area or items that are damaged during use.

As a limited resource, the loss of parking can be disruptive on the University’s operations, and the effects on parking from construction activities must be planned for and mitigated.  Parking Services and the Transportation Planner must have the opportunity to review the site logistics plan prior to their finalization whenever the University’s parking access or capacity will be affected by a project.

The parking of personal vehicles at construction trailers without a worksite parking permit is prohibited.  The general contractor or construction manager may utilize its worksite parking permits for parking at worksite trailers if approved in advance as part of its site logistics plans.

Policy History

Effective January 2016 (approved by President’s Cabinet)