Fresh New Tech & Parking Improvements
Dear UTRGV Community,
With a new semester underway, you may have noticed increased traffic around the university. While traffic and parking patterns typically normalize after the first two weeks of school, we wanted to share some resources that can help make getting to — and around — campus as smooth as possible.
Park it. VOLT it. Get there faster.
VOLT is specifically designed for efficiency and effectiveness. This fleet of 23 zero-emission street legal vehicles is equipped with safety and security cameras, unlimited high-speed data streams, and GPS vehicle trackers via Ride Systems. If you haven't yet, we recommend downloading the Ride Systems App on iOS, Android, or online to view real-time shuttle locations and estimated arrival times. This app updates locations every few seconds to make vehicle tracking easy! Remember, anyone can view VOLT shuttle maps and route changes during the semester on the UTRGV Parking and Transportation website.
Purchase Parking Permits
All students, faculty, and staff vehicles must display valid UTRGV parking permits. As a reminder, 2022-2023 parking permits expired on August 31 and are no longer valid. You can still purchase one of the following permits for 2023-2024 online through our Parking Portal:
- Zone 1 (Students): $60/year, Zone 1 lots, VOLT shuttle access
- Zone 2 (Students & Faculty/Staff): $100/year, Zones 1 & 2 lots, closer to buildings
- Zone 3 (Faculty/Staff): $200/year, Zones 1, 2, & 3 lots
Parking Improvements
We're always searching for ways to elevate your parking experience! And while some upgrades will be launched in Spring 2024 (stay tuned for future announcements), here’s a look at the improved technology, processes, and policies that you can expect this semester:
New Parking Technology:
- Parking Guidance System (PGS): Real-time guidance to open spots, reducing search time and congestion added to lots E16 and E19, viewable online. (Launch date: September 8)
Process & Policy Changes:
- A second-level appeal option is available for citation disputes.
- Online Affiliated Parking Permits are conveniently available online for purchase.
Transportation Improvements
To complement parking and better address transportation needs, transit routes are being improved in the following ways:
- VOLT Purple Circuit
- A new route to serve the South side of the Edinburg campus, including the Visitors Center, connecting with Vaquero Express and expanding connectivity across the entire campus.
- Vaquero Express
- EVABL Evening Service (8:30 PM - 10:30 PM): Will be closely monitored during the first two weeks of class, with service suspended or modified thereafter depending on demand.
- Stops from Weslaco to Brownsville and Brownsville to Weslaco have been added to some trips on Campus Connector during the first two weeks of class (August 29 – September 8) to improve access to classes.
- Orange line
- Weslaco-Brownsville Connector: Operated by our transit partner Valley Metro, will serve UTRGV’s Brownsville, Edinburg, and Weslaco locations to expand route options across the Rio Grande Valley. (See map and Fall Vaquero Express semester schedule 2023.)
We’ll monitor and make changes as needed to improve the service schedules. More information about these enhancements will be available on the UTRGV Parking and Transportation website.
We hope this breakdown of the parking zones, permits, and policy changes helps clarify our current parking requirements. Additional parking information and resources for Fall 2023 are available in this Student Resource Guide. As always, we encourage you to contact Parking and Transportation Services with questions and follow UTRGV PTS on Instagram (@UTRGVPTS) for updates.
Have a great semester and enjoy the ride!
UTRGV Parking & Transportation