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.

“We anticipate high traffic volumes on campus and delays in exiting campus after 6 p.m. If you are planning to leave campus in a vehicle that evening, we recommend exiting prior to 6 p.m.,” says Cameron Neufeld, director of the Office of Parking & Transportation.

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.

Note: UMFA permit parkers will receive information about their new rate effective this fall via email directly from the parking and transportation office.

You have options

Looking for carpooling options? Discover an easy way to find fellow commuters interested in carpooling to UM with GoManitoba — a free service.

For employees with varying workdays or shared workspaces, permit sharing is available. Learn more about this option on the parking and transportation website.

If you wish to cancel your staff permit before the rate change, please submit a staff parking permit cancellation form no later than August 25, 2023.

If you have any inquiries regarding this notice, please contact staffparking@umanitoba.ca

The first CFL game at IG Field is Friday June 2nd at 7:30pm. Parking restrictions on campus come into effect 90 minutes prior to the event start time and they are lifted 60 minutes after the conclusion of the event. Even permit holders for certain parking lots must move their vehicles during this window.

All non-UM parking permit holders wishing to park on campus during the Event Day window must pay for parking in casual parking locations.

For up-to-date event schedule and detailed information about the Event Day parking plan, please visit https://umanitoba.ca/parking/event-day-parking.

Parking Lot Availability

Lot selection is on a first come first serve basis and is subject to change.

Commuter permits are valid in all student lots – Q, U, I, W or ACE.

Flexible permits are valid in all student lots – Q, U, I, W or ACE.

Residence permits are valid for one of the following residence lots – D, F, L and St. John’s. Confirmation of residence student status will be required in order to apply for a student residence permit.

If you are a residence student and would like to purchase a commuter type permit, please contact our office.

Flexible permits are valid for a specific day of the week. For example, a student who has Tuesday and Thursday classes may purchase two permits; one for Tuesdays and one for Thursdays. These permits would be valid on every Tuesday and Thursday until the permit expires.

Licence Plates

A maximum of four licence plates may be linked to a commuter or flexible permit. Residence students may only have one plate linked to their permit at a time. It is the responsibility of the permit owner to ensure only one vehicle is parking using the permit at any given time. 

Vehicles must be parked within the numbered stall structure of the lot (no parking beyond or between rows, in drive aisles, on grass or centered on or between posts.)

Cancellation & Refund Fees

Although students may cancel their permit, monthly and weekly permits are not eligible for refund.

Fill out the Campus Commute Survey between January 16-31, 2023 for a chance to win a $500 grocery store gift certificate or one of ten $50 food vouchers for Degrees, Campo or Starbucks.

Results of the Campus Commute Survey inform strategic planning around transportation related infrastructure, education and peer-based programs in support of climate action, sustainability and wellness goals.

This year’s Campus Commute Survey includes questions to better understand our greenhouse gas emissions from commuting and air travel and inform future strategies for the UM Climate Action Plan.

The UM Climate Action Plan is a framework to help us halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and become carbon neutral by 2050. In 2019, 29% of our total emissions were generated from transportation related to commuting, business and research travel, and fleet vehicles.

Take the 2023 Campus Commute Survey now.

You can also complete the Campus Commute Survey in-person at an upcoming survey lounge:

• Brodie Atrium, Thursday, January 19, 10AM – 1PM
• UMSU University Centre, Wednesday, January 25, 10AM – 1PM 

This survey is administered by the Green Action Centre, and all responses are completely confidential. Only aggregated results are reported back to the University.
The survey is organized biennially by the Office of Sustainability. Previous surveys took place in 2020, 2018 and 2016 (inaugural).

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the Office of Sustainability at sustainability[at]umanitoba.ca. 

Parking privileges are assigned virtually and verified using licence plate recognition software. Commuter, residence and flexible student permits are available for purchase month-to-month or for the 2021 Fall Term.

New flexible student permits available

Students have the option to purchase flexible permits that are valid only for a specific day of the week.

For example, if you only have Tuesday and Thursday classes you can purchase 2 permits—one valid for Tuesdays and one for Thursdays. These permits would be valid for all the Tuesdays and all the Thursdays for the month, or for the entire fall term, depending on which permit you decide to purchase. 

• A maximum of 4 licence plates may be linked to a commuter or flexible permit.
• Residence students may only have one plate linked to their permit at a time.
• It is the responsibility of the permit owner to ensure only one vehicle is parking using the permit at any given time. 

Where can you park with a flexible permit?

Vehicles must be parked within the numbered stall structure of the lot—no parking is allowed beyond or between rows, in drive aisles, on grass or centered on or between posts.

Commuter and flexible permit holders have access to the following student lots: Q, I, U, W and ACE.

Residence permit holders have access to one of the following residence student lots: D, F, L and St. John’s. Confirmation of residence student status will be required in order to apply for a student residence permit.