Less U. parking | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Chad Mullins' unfortunate "U. car lots a broken promise?" (Opinion March 26) begins with mistaken premises; and as Cicero observed, "there is never a proper end to reasoning which proceeds on a false foundation."

The University of Utah's decision to build parking garages will not be "added parking," as Mullins alleges. Since 2008, campus construction has removed 1,590 parking spaces; an additional 1,475 spaces will be lost by 2015.

Replacing 1,132 spaces against a loss of more than 3,000 isn't additional parking; it's a reduction of 1,933 spaces.

The university works hard to balance the need for parking while encouraging transit. We have done more than any other entity along the Wasatch Front to reduce carbon emissions.

Our policies haven't been implemented in a vacuum — or, as Mullins aserts, "unilaterally." As promised, we have involved the community, government entities and the campus with workshops, forums and neighborhood groups.

We're not "inviting more vehicles" to campus. We're working rationally and effectively to meet our obligations.

Alma Allred Director, Commuter Services University of Utah

Salt Lake City