UNB, STU deal with tech woes as they switch to virtual parking app

The University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University have said goodbye to physical parking passes and hello to a new virtual technology that some students say falls short of providing better parking on campus.

Both Fredericton universities are rolling out a partnership with Hotspot, an app used for managing parking at schools, airports, businesses and hospitals across North America, with the aim ofmakingpaying for parking more efficient for students.

The app allows students and staff to pay for their annual or daily parking passes virtually, eliminating the need to pick up apass on campus to leave in their vehicles.

But switching to this app leftsome unable to claim their passes duringthe first week of school.

"We've had a few start-up issues with integrating credit cards and making sure systems work properly that's typical when you roll out a new technology.But generally the response has been very positive," said Jeffrey Carleton, assistant to the president of St. Thomas University.

He said about 200 students and 120 staff members have successfully purchased their parking tickets using the app. There are about 1,800 students and staff on campus.

Carleton said the university will hold off on enforcing parking passes for a couple of weeksto give everyone timeto learn about the app and get set up on it.

The cost of an annual parking pass for students is $156. That is a $14 increase from last year's rate, which Carleton said is unrelated to the switch to digital. UNB charges $192 for an annual parking pass.

UNB said, in an emailed statement, this new parking app is part of its commitment to "create a modern, integrated and more sustainable university," and understands there have been challenges.

"During this time, parking enforcement will be paused. We are hopeful that this issue will be resolved within the next 48 hours," said Bill Best, UNB vice-president of administration and finance.

St. Thomas student Madison Buckley said she wasn't able to geta parking pass and is thankful the university has promised not to issue parking tickets until the system is up and running.

"That kind of helps us, but it doesn't help the parking situation, because now people with no parking passes are going to come to campus wherever, any time, which just brings more cars to campus," said Buckley.

UNB student Samara White said she resorted to parking at the Currie Center, which is at the bottom of the hill.

"I was actually late to class because I just couldn't find a spot, and I had to stand up during my lecture because there were no seats," said White.

White said she tried to buya parking pass, but wasn't able to because the new system was down.

She said she didn't buy onelast year because it wasn't worth it since shehadto park off campus most days anyway.

UNBStudent Union presidentDrashtant Varmasaid he's optimistic about the new system and hopes it will prevent parking offenders which will, in turn, create more availability for paying students.

"In terms of finding and catching people who are in violation of parking, it will increase the efficiency by 50 per cent," said Varma, "It's just a way to make the system better."

He said the student union asks students to fill out a survey at the end of each year to get a better understanding of how it could improve the student experience, and the lack of parking spaces on campus was a common issue brought up in survey results.

And concerns weren't just related to the overall efficiency of parking on campus, but alsothe need for more spaces.

"We've definitely advocated" for more parking, he said. "UNB is on a hill so we don't have much space to create more parking, but I certainly hope there will be change."

Michael Daniel is a student at St. Thomas University and says parking continues to be a challenge.

"There aren't enough parking spaces and they aren't expanding it's the status quo here," he said.

Before coming to the university, Danielsaid he was reassured that the campus was accessible and had ample room for parking.

"If you don't show up by eight o'clock you don't get a parking spot, and you have to park on the street or some people park illegally it kind of sucks."