What’s New?

OPT is introducing three improvements to the Student Parking System to provide students more options and flexibility:

Expanding Tiered Parking Rates

In 2024, OPT offered three tiers of student parking permit rates to give students a choice in price points for monthly parking permits. For the 2025-26 academic year, that will be expanded to five tiers.

These tiers will include a value option in SD lot, and four tiers on the core campus. The tiers range from $70 per month (SD Lot) to $135 per month (Ft Garry Parkade). The tier prices are determined by several factors, most notably by location, facility type, amenities and demand.

New Non-Expiring Permits

A new feature for the upcoming academic year is the introduction of non-expiring permits for students purchasing tiers 3 or 4.

This change is in response to students who experienced challenges where they were able to get a permit in year one, and then not in their second year. Some students said they made decisions on where to live based on having access to a parking permit, only to miss out the following year when trying to purchase one.

The new non-expiring permits are geared towards students who have a long commute, some of whom don’t have access to public transit, and to those that plan to attend the campus year-round. 

More Flexible Parking

Originally introduced in 2020, flexible parking permits allow students to purchase permits for specific days of the week, rather than the whole month.

For example, a student that only attends classes on Tuesday and Thursday can purchase a monthly permit allowing them to park every Tuesday and every Thursday, rather than for every day of the week. The flexible student parking program will be expanded this year to offer two locations instead of one, at two different price points. 

For more information on these new options, visit the student parking website.

To ease the transition from parking meters to virtual payments, eight physical parking meters will remain active in visitor lots AC, ACW, ALC, L, Q, SD and U. Drivers choosing to park in lots A, D, G, H or N lot in the evening will need to pay for parking through the HONK Mobile app or by scanning the onsite QR code to pay without downloading the app.

With HONK Mobile, drivers can pay for parking right from their vehicles and have the ability to add parking time from anywhere.

If you have any questions about the transition, please reach out to the Office of Parking and Transportation at parking@umanitoba.ca.

Starting immediately, drivers can use their phones to pay for parking using the HonkMobile app, available for both iPhone and Android, or by scanning the on-site QR codes found in UM parking lots.

How it works

After either downloading the app or scanning a QR code, drivers will be asked to input their licence  plate details, select desired parking duration and choose from a variety of rate options.

For users who prefer not to create an account, scanning a QR code provides a guest checkout option. Once set up, users can opt in to receive text message reminders before parking expires, with the option to extend time right from the app or website.

Both the app and QR code options allow drivers to pay for parking using Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Interac Debit and all major credit cards.

About HONK

HONK was founded in 2013 after CEO Michael Back and his children missed several innings of a baseball game due to parking availability and payment issues. Its contactless parking payment services are in use at more than 10,000 locations across Canada and the US.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out directly to the Office of Parking and Transportation at parking@umanitoba.ca.

FALL CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

Watch for further updates regarding construction on Dysart Road, including vehicular, pedestrian and cycling impacts. Changes to the detour are expected mid-September with the reopening of Dysart Rd.

Barricades and safety signage will be posted to safely direct pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Flaggers will be on site to help guide traffic during peak times.

Take caution at all times during construction to ensure everyone’s safety.

Current construction and closure status:

• Zone 1:Dysart Road closed at Sidney Smith Street for a steam line replacement. Completion anticipated early October. Full outline appears in a previous story.
• Zone 2: Curry Place COMPLETE
• Zone 3: Dafoe Road COMPLETE
• Zone 4:University Crescent will be impacted by construction to address a condensate leak. One lane will be closed southbound University Cres. during construction.

See map below. (Click to enlarge.)

To stay informed about traffic impacts for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, visit the service disruptions web page.

For any questions, contact Vanessa Jukes Strutt, MALA, CSLA, PMP, Project Manager, Architectural & Engineering Services, Physical Plant at vanessa.jukes@umanitoba.ca.

One of three new dual-port electric vehicle charging stations available

Thanks to a grant from the Manitoba Conservation and Climate Fund in 2021-22, six new Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed. Students, faculty, staff and visitors may charge their battery electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for up to four hours, provided they have a valid UM parking permit or paid metre parking. The new chargers are located in H-lot, ALC-lot and B-lot on the Fort Garry campus.

“These new chargers are an important next step in meeting the demand that we know is only going to increase in the coming years,” says Office of Parking and Transportation director Cameron Neufeld.

“Supporting the UM campus community to shift to low and zero-emission vehicles is essential as we work together to reach our climate action goals,” explains Office of Sustainability director Christie Nairn.

Daily Level 1 charge now available

For EV drivers looking for a daily Level 1 charge, 20 parking stalls in Q lot have been converted from a cycling smart plug intended for block-heater warming, to plugs offering a constant flow of electricity year-round. Contact the Office of Parking and Transportation for more information on accessing these stalls.

Fleet vehicle charging

In anticipation of additional plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles being added to the suite of UM fleet vehicles, two additional Level 2 chargers have been installed near Physical Plant. The new fleet chargers are reserved for UM fleet vehicle charging 24-7.

Find an EV charging option near you.

A higher-than-normal traffic volume is expected on campus. Doors open at 5p.m. with the event beginning at 6p.m. until 7:30.

If you’re writing an exam, please allow enough time to arrive on campus before the exam begins.

Event Game Day restrictions will not be enforced but if attendance exceeds 10,000 visitors, Chancellor Matheson and University Crescent in front of IG Field may close for pedestrian safety. The road closures will only be for a short time in advance of the event and at the end of the event.

Disruptions to traffic should be minimal, and all parking will be free.

There is no requirement for UM Permit holders or visitors to vacate the parking lots as all parking will be shared use.

“Now, as we welcome people back to campus this fall and winter with the gradual reopening of our campuses, we are happy to be able to continue our services and offer these options for our staff, faculty and students,” says Cameron Neufeld, director, parking and transportation services. 

The return to regular parking rates is part of the UM’s return-to-campus re-opening plan.

Monthly parking fees reinstated; permits automatically reactivated 

As of Sept. 1, 2021, permit and casual parking rates will return to 2019 amounts, with staff and student monthly parking permit fees at $75 per month and UMFA parking fees at $53.01 per month.  

For staff and faculty permit holders wishing to have their parking permits reactivated, no action is required.

Student parking permits, both monthly and flexible permits, will go on sale on in August, with more information coming soon at: https://umanitoba.ca/parking/student-parking 

Other options for staff and faculty 

Permit hold option

Placing a hold on your parking spot remains an option with a Permit Hold for $10 per month for staff and faculty who wish to retain their parking allocation, but who do not require full-time parking access in the fall.  

If you do not wish to keep your permit active, by Aug. 27 you must either: 

• place a Parking Hold Request: http://umanitoba.ca/sites/default/files/2020-09/parking-hold.pdf; or 
• place a Cancellation Request: https://umanitoba.ca/parking/staff-parking/staff-parking-cancellation-form. 

Flexible parking option

For staff that are not on campus full-time, but require occasional parking access, a new Flexible Permit option will be available.

UPDATE: Information on flexible parking options is now available.  

Parking and transportation services continued to operate throughout the pandemic without funding and with only minimal revenue, providing campus transportation and parking administration, services and maintenance, notes Neufeld.

“Many academic institutions across the country including others in Winnipeg continued to charge full parking rates throughout the pandemic,” he adds.

“Going through the pandemic has been tough for everyone, and UM made the decision to pull back on fees in order to ease the financial burden on people through this difficult time—and will continue to offer these additional options leading up to our return to campus through this fall and winter.”

See the parking and transportation website for current information and updates.

For casual visitor parking rates, please visit https://umanitoba.ca/parking/visitor-parking. 

UPDATED Apr. 23

On Jan. 1, 2021 UM implemented a reduced staff and student parking permit rate for the winter term of $10 per month.  Staff parkers, whether currently active or on hold, were able to park in any reserved staff or student lot during the winter term.

The reduced rates will continue until Aug. 31.

Should you have any questions, please contact parking@umanitoba.ca

PARKMOBILE available!

Commuter, residence and flexible student permits will be available for purchase for one month or the entire 2020 Fall term. 

Flexible permits come in two variations: Mon/Wed/Fri and Tu/Thu for those not taking classes full time. 

Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will operate through a virtual permit system.

Parking privileges are assigned to your University parking account and are verified using licence plate recognition software; in other words, your licence plate is your permit.

A maximum of four licence plates may be linked to a virtual student parking permit.

See more: http://umanitoba.ca/parking/student-parking