New Palmer parking structure to open

The new 980-space Palmer Drive parking structure—in the Palmer Drive Development near the Washtenaw Avenue/Huron Street curve—officially opens this week. Faculty and staff permit parking will be available today (Sept. 13), while 183 spaces of visitor parking will open Sept. 15.

Due to ongoing construction in the area, a limited portion of the parking structure was available last year by driving through the Fletcher Street parking structure. The vehicle connector between the two structures will be closed with this grand opening, though pedestrians still have access via a connector bridge. Vehicle access to the new structure only will be available via Palmer Drive.

"We're very pleased to bring nearly 1,000 parking spaces into our system," says Dave Miller, director of Parking and Transportation Services. "This new structure is conveniently located near both the Medical and Central campuses and provides us with an opportunity to offer some additional visitor parking, convenient to nearby museums, medical and dental services, and performing arts venues."

The structure is accessible at two locations along Palmer Drive via five traffic lanes. A faculty/staff entry and exit are at the east end of Palmer Drive, closest to the intersection with Washtenaw Avenue. Permit holders will need an Automated Vehicle Identification (AVI) device or an access card to gain entry. Fifteen faculty/staff gold permit spaces and 10 U-M Business spaces are near the east entry/exit.

At the western end of Palmer Drive, a combined entry lane for visitors and faculty/staff AVI permit holders, a cashier-attended exit lane for visitors and an exit lane for AVI device holders are provided. Faculty and staff entering through the west entrance will need to drive through a second AVI-controlled gate to access permit only spaces. Visitor parking at $1 per hour will be available from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

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