Beginning in the fall semester of the 2023-24 school year, the price of the Pali student parking pass was raised by $50. According to the Pali website, the parking pass now costs $200 for a year-long pass and $125 for a semester-long pass.
These passes allow for Pali students to park in either of the two parking lots on campus, the stadium lot or the El Medio lot. However, they do not guarantee students a spot. Parking passes can be purchased through the Transportation Office or Student Store, and their prices are controlled by the Associated Student Body (ASB).
ASB Senior Class President Chukwunonso Kojo-Onwaeze explained the decision to raise the price of the parking passes during a committee meeting with ASB and board members.
“The price of the parking pass was raised because we’re trying to give students a better experience here, which would definitely cost more funds,” he said. “We are also trying to offset the expensive [school] bus prices and accommodate students who take the bus and are predominantly low income.”
Kojo-Onwaeze still sympathized with students who may feel frustrated by the newly raised prices.
“From the outside and not knowing the inner perspective about the motive behind the parking pass being raised, it looks pretty harsh,” he said. “However, after understanding that the goal is to help students taking the bus and make transportation a more equitable experience for Pali students, I think the price being raised is justified.”
According to the Pali Transportation Office, the cost of Pali private busing has also risen by $200 and it now costs $2,700 to take the Pali buses.
Administration did not respond to Tideline’s request for an interview.
The raise in the parking pass price gives Pali students two options: pay $200 or find parking elsewhere.
Junior Sofia Mollica said that she feels outraged at the increased prices.
“I am not going to end up buying a parking pass because I have to pay for my car, car insurance and save money for the increased gas prices,” she said. “Why would I then also pay for a parking pass at a public school?”
Last school year, Mollica parked in the stadium parking lot without a pass and without consequence. However, this school year has seen stricter parking enforcement, leading Mollica to park in the residential streets near Pali such as El Medio Avenue and Bowdoin Street.
Mollica said that parking in the residential streets is very inconvenient.
“Right now I have a sprained ankle and have to painfully walk up the Bowdoin Street hill each day to get to my car because I can’t park in the lot,” she said. “I have also gotten a flat tire [from construction] after having to park on the residential streets.”
On the other hand, junior Jasper Hoegh-Guldberg believes that the change hasn’t had a huge effect on his parking choices.
Hoegh-Guldberg purchased the parking pass at the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and has been parking in the stadium parking lot since. He said that this is a welcome change from last year, when he opted to find parking on residential streets.
“In terms of purchasing a parking pass I’d say it definitely depends on the person,” he said. “For me, having a parking pass is nice but not a huge difference, however, for someone coming a long distance it might be helpful.”
While the parking pass has been beneficial, Hoegh-Guldberg believes that purchasing the pass was not vital for him.
“I think that it’s a good thing to have, but it’s way too expensive and not something that everyone can afford,” he concluded.
