Frequently Asked Questions – General
Q1. Why are you introducing a new parking management provider?
Our Security staff have many duties in addition to parking management. Hiring an outside company provides the university with a team dedicated to education, patrols, management and enforcement, including dispute resolution. In addition, the vendor will introduce new payment options (e.g., through an app) for the ease of users.
Q2. How will I pay for parking?
You can pay for hourly, daily or weekly parking the way you always have, at our parking lot kiosks, which accept a variety of payment options including cash, credit card, GooglePay and Apple Pay.
Starting July 30, you will also be able to pay for parking using the Pay By Phone and Honk apps. Information on how to pay through these apps will be provided on new signage installed throughout campus.
Please note: There will be a new payment kiosk added to the lower parking lot in July. To park in areas of campus without a parking kiosk (e.g., Cedar building), you have the option to purchase a parking pass at the kiosk located at the campus’s information booth in upper campus or by using either the Pay By Phone by Honk apps.
You can pay for a yearly parking permit in person at the Welcome Desk or online.
Q3. What will collected parking fees/parking fines/annual parking rate increases be used for?
Fees will be used to maintain roads and parking lots – everything from line painting to surface maintenance to snow removal. We’ll also invest in expanded end-of-trip facilities for cyclists and those using active transportation methods.
Q4. Can I park in any lot or area?
Vehicles on campus must be parked in designated parking zones. Parking zones are as follows:
- General parking
- Short-term parking (30 min. max)
- Accessible parking (if you are an accessible passholder)
- Reserved parking — Reserved parking spots are reserved 24/7, including holidays.
- Service vehicle spaces — These spaces can only be used by designated Royal Roads staff and contractor service vehicles.
In addition, the following zones are marked by signage:
- Passenger drop-off zones — You can stop briefly in these zones to drop off or pick-up passengers. Vehicles must not be left unattended and must follow the posted time limit.
- Loading zones — There are various loading zones on campus. Look for signage to indicate how long you can stay parked in a loading zone, usually no more than 15 minutes.
Pay parking is in effect throughout campus, even in short-term parking spaces.
Q5. How will parking infraction notices be issued?
You will receive a physical copy of the parking infraction notice on your windshield.
Q6. Who do I contact if I disagree with a ticket I receive or have a general complaint about parking?
As of July 30, 2024, contact Robbins Customer Care team at 250-382-4439 or though their website at www.robbinsparking.com. Information about how to a dispute a parking violation is provided on the back of the ticket and on the Robbins Parking website.
Q7. Is there a limit to EV charging station use?
Vehicles with a valid parking pass can be at a charging station for a maximum of four hours.
If your vehicle requires an additional charge time beyond the four-hour maximum, we invite you to move your vehicle to a different charging station for additional time. Our research indicates that a four-hour charge provides the typical EV owner with a substantial amount of battery power.
Q8. Charging my electric vehicle used to be free! Why isn’t it free anymore?
We are introducing cost-recovery fees for electricity use for our charging stations. Royal Roads operates our parking on a cost-recovery, breakeven basis and relies on parking compliance to do so.
Q9. What is License Plate Recognition (LPR) parking?
As of July 30, 2024, parking on campus will be enforced through license plate recognition. There is no physical permit to display on your vehicle; users simply enter their licence plate number when they purchase a pass, so the LPR system can recognize it with their cameras. LPR is being widely adopted across the parking industry – for businesses, institutions and municipalities.
Benefits include:
- Parking users no longer need to display a printed permit or proof of payment in the vehicle. No more lost permits or tickets, forgetting to display a permit, or permits falling out of view.
- Permits can be renewed without returning to the vehicle by using the mobile app options.
- LPR parking reduces waste and litter on campus.
- LPR parking allows for better data collection for lot usage, leading to more effective parking management.
Frequently Asked Questions – Employees and Students
Q1. If I’m only on campus two or three days a week, do I have to pay full price for a pass?
We offer monthly, weekly, daily and hourly parking passes to choose from. These options encourage drivers to choose the pass that best suits their unique situation.
Q2. What can we anticipate in terms of parking fee increases? Will the university be consulted regarding future increases, or will Robbins Parking set them?
Royal Roads sets parking fees and will continue to do so. We anticipate the need to increase parking rates in future years to offset growing costs to maintain our parking lots and end-of-trip facilities.
Q3. Can I cancel my current yearly parking pass and purchase a new one before the new rates take effect on June 4, 2024? Will I be refunded for funds remaining on my current pass?
You can cancel your current yearly parking pass and purchase a new one before the new rates take effect. If eligible, prorated refunds will be issued as outlined in RRU’s Parking and Traffic Management standard.
Passes may be purchased online through MyAdmin until July 29, 2024.
Q4. I have more than one car. With the License Plate Recognition, or pay-by-license-plate, system do I have to purchase an annual pass for every vehicle I intend to drive to campus or can I register both of my vehicles on annual pass?
We understand that you may have more than one vehicle that you use to commute to campus. Our system allows for each annual pass holder to register two license plates on each annual pass. The Welcome Desk can update license plate information. You will be required to provide your vehicle registration documentation as proof of vehicle ownership.
Q5. I am unable to pay for my entire annual pass in one payment. I liked the payroll deduction option. Is it still possible to do that with the introduction of Robbins?
Yes. You can continue to pay for parking by payroll deduction when you purchase your permit.
Q6. Do I need to do anything with my existing pass?
With the implementation of License Plate Recognition parking enforcement, you no longer need to display a parking pass in your vehicle. You may recycle your pass.
The vehicle data you provided the Welcome Desk at the time of permit purchase, which included your license plate number, has been entered into the License Plate Recognition system showing you have a valid pass.
Q7. My pass doesn’t expire until the Fall of 2024, is there anything I need to do now? Do I need to register my license plate with Robbins?
If you currently have a valid parking pass, the vehicle data you provided the Welcome Desk at the time of permit purchase, which included your license plate number, has been entered into the License Plate Recognition system showing you have a valid pass. You do not need to take any further action.
Q8. Will I be issued any kind of proof of parking pass purchase? Is there a customer portal where I can see my permit payment and expiry?
You will receive a receipt option for your payment regardless of your purchase method. If you pay for short-term parking on Pay By Phone or Honk (the app or website versions), you may be able to see details within the app.
Q9. Will I get renewal reminders when my permit is close to expiration?
At this time, no renewal reminders will be issued.
Q10. Do students staying in dorms overnight need to obtain permission from Security to park overnight in central parking lot?
No. Students staying in the dorms receive permission to park overnight in the central parking lot when they check-in for their stay at the Welcome Desk.
Q11. I have a guest lecturer/VIP guest/donor coming to campus. Can I offer them free parking? How do I do that with this new system?
You can submit a request to Campus Security for complimentary parking for a guest. Complimentary parking will be issued following the Parking and Traffic Management standard.
As of July 30, 2024, requests for complimentary parking will be submitted through an online form from the RRU parking webpage.
Q12. If I have an annual parking permit, do I also have to pay to charge my electric vehicle?
Yes. You will need to purchase parking for use of a parking spot. You will need to make an additional purchase of charging time if you wish to charge your vehicle. EV charging is operated on a cost-recovery, breakeven basis.
NOTE: Our charging station parking stalls have a maximum of four hours' use. Should you wish to park longer, you will need to move your vehicle to longer term parking when you have completed your charging time.