Finding a parking spot on the UW-La Crosse campus can be tricky and frustrating, especially without a parking permit. After conducting a parking study in 2002, an idea of pursuing a parking ramp was proposed and approved.

 The ramp will be placed on Farwell Street, in between the 16th and 17th street block, where current gravel parking lots exist.  Construction will begin in late spring of this year, with a potential completion date in spring of 2013.

 The cost of the parking ramp consists of an estimated ten million dollars, with two million dollars going towards a new campus police station, which will be adjacent to the ramp.  The funding for the building is coming directly from user fees, not from segregated fees or tuition costs. The ramp will be a mixed-used, three-level structure that will offer around 600 spaces, with the upper deck being designated residential space.  180 parking spots will be lost, due to the construction of the new Cowley building.  

The options for the ramp will be annual permits, which include $218 for commuter permits and $268 for residential permits, daily parking for five dollars and daily metered parking for 75 cents per hour. Pay stations within the ramp, will provide the option of using a debit/credit card or tower one, to pay for parking. Overnight guests will also be allowed to use the parking ramp.  Scott Rohde, the Chief of University Police, explained that due to UW-L being such a dense campus with limited space, the only option we have is to build up. "We are using space that is already used for parking to create a more efficient parking system," said Rohde.  

The idea of becoming more environmentally conscious was brought to attention, with trying to resist bringing cars to campus, but Rohde expressed that for many faculty members and students, that is unrealistic and a different option was needed.

 "This parking ramp will provide more parking and more access to parking. It will also have a brick-face design, similar to the look of Centennial and Eagle Hall which brings unity to the campus. The ramp will enhance the visitor experience in a positive way and with the new police office facility being right next to the ramp will increase safety," said Rohde.

 "The police office has been operating out of an old house, which includes no space and is very inadequate," said Rohde, "The new office will have four times the amount of existing space, which will allow us to hold community events and offer a better evidence system. Having this new facility will significantly impact the lives who use it."  

Aurora Kellner, a senior at UW-L, believes the parking ramp is a good idea because there is no room to expand outward. "If there was a parking ramp, we wouldn't need so many parking lots and some of the lots could be converted to green area, which was taken away when Eagle Hall was built," Kellner said.  A name for the new parking ramp has not been facilitated and the ramp will also offer LED high efficiency lighting.