Cornell University: Transportation and Mail Services: Commuter and Parking Services
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FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Student Questions

Faculty/Staff Questions

Parking Ticket Appeals Questions



Commuter & Parking Services
116 Maple Ave.
Ithaca, NY 14850
TEL: 607 255-PARK
FAX: 607 255-0257
transportation@cornell.edu

General Questions

What are your hours?

Today is a University Holiday, what parking restrictions are enforced?

Today is a holiday (not recognized by the university), is it open parking?

Do I have to register my car with the university?

How much does it cost?

If I buy a parking permit, do I have to register my car with the university?

What parking privileges do I receive for registering my vehicle with the university?

Why must I register my car with the university?

I got a new car but kept the same license plate. What do I need to do?

Do I need a new parking permit?

I have a new car and new plates. What should I do?

What do I do if I lose my parking permit?

Do I have to buy a new permit?

Do I have to come to the Transportation Office?

I am just going to be at Cornell for the day--do I need a permit?

What is the cost of short-term parking at the parking meters?

What is the cost of the daily permits at the booths?

Do I need a permit to park on campus after 5:00 p.m.?

If I have a handicap plate/placard, can I use the handicap spaces on campus?

Student Questions

How much is a parking permit?

Can I have parking permit for my residence hall and for my classes?

Do my friends have to purchase a parking permit when they visit my residence hall on the weekend?

My landlord does not have enough parking for everyone in my building...

I live on Stewart Ave., can I purchase an 'SW' permit?
I live on University Ave., can I purchase a 'WD' permit?
I live on Triphammer Rd., can I purchase a 'ND' permit?

Can I register a friend's car and get a parking permit for him?

When can I advance order parking for the next academic year?

Can I return my permit after the fall semester if I don't have my car anymore?

Faculty/Staff Questions

What is the Transportation Demand Management Program (TDMP)?

I am a new employee here at Cornell, do I need a permit to park?

What do I need to get a permit?

How much does a parking permit cost?

Can I share my permit with another Cornell employee?

What permits are available for temporary employees?

I have a new car and new plates. I participate in a demand management program and have perimeter book permits with my plate listed. What should I do?

What if I want to take a bus to work--how can I get a bus pass?

What are the transit and parking options for retirees?

General Answers

What are your hours?

7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the academic year.

7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the summer session. back to General Questions

Today is a University Holiday, what parking restrictions are enforced?

On employee-holidays when the university is closed, only fire lanes, and handicap, service, and reserved spaces will be enforced. This does not apply to student-only holidays and breaks, during which permit parking will be enforced. Winter overnight parking restrictions will remain in place, holiday or not, from December 1 through April 1 each year. back to General Questions

Today is a holiday (not recognized by the university), is it open parking?

No. Parking regulations are being enforced as usual. On-campus parking is by permit only Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the calendar year. Metered lots and spaces are open to everyone. back to General Questions

Do I have to register my car with the university?

Yes. If you are a member of the Cornell community (faculty, staff, student, or affiliate) and ever plan to park on the grounds of the university at any time, or for any reason, you have to register your car with Commuter and Parking Services. back to General Questions

How much does it cost?

There is no charge for registration. back to General Questions

If I buy a parking permit, do I have to register my car with the university?

When you purchase a parking permit you are registering your vehicle with the university at the same time. back to General Questions

What parking privileges do I receive for registering my vehicle with the university?

You may park in the 'A' lot on North Campus after 2:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. No permit is required for this privilege. back to General Questions

Why must I register my car with the university?

It is required by the University.

It allows us to contact you in the event of an emergency, if your vehicle needs to be moved, or even if you left your vehicle's headlights on. back to General Questions

I got a new car but kept the same license plate. What do I need to do?

If you transferred the license plate from your old vehicle to your new one, fill out a change form online, call us 255-PARK, or e-mail us at transportation@cornell.edu and give us the following information:

License plate number
Year of the new vehicle
Make
Model (2 door, 4 door, minivan, etc.)
Color
Registered owner
We'll make the change. That's it. back to General Questions

Do I need a new parking permit?

You will not need a new parking permit as long as you have kept the same plate. back to General Questions

I have a new car and new plates. What should I do?

Fill out a change form online, or come to our office at 116 Maple Ave. Bring your permit (to turn in) and your vehicle's registration (so you'll have all of the new info handy). You'll fill out a form and we'll print you a new permit. back to General Questions

What do I do if I lose my parking permit?

Fill out a lost permit form at Transportation Services, 116 Maple Ave. Call 255-PARK for assistance. If it's been stolen be sure to inform the Cornell Police (255-1111). back to General Questions

Do I have to buy a new permit?

No. We'll give you a two-week temporary permit to give you time to locate your permit. If you can not find it, you'll pay a replacement fee and we'll issue you a new permit. back to General Questions

Do I have to come to the Transportation Office?

No, we can process most transactions via phone, fax, campus mail, and/or e-mail. But because most transactions require a signature, coming to the office is the quickest way to get what you need. back to General Questions

I am just going to be at Cornell for the day--do I need a permit?

You may park in a metered area and pay the meter, or you can stop at one of the four information and parking booths located at the entrances of the campus and purchase a visitor permit for the day. back to General Questions

What is the cost of short-term parking at the parking meters?

There is a whole page devoted to metered parking areas; it covers locations, fees, and time limits. back to General Questions

What is the cost of the daily permits at the booths?

Daily permits purchased at 116 Maple Avenue or the information and parking booths range in price from $6 - $10. Call 255-PARK for details. back to General Questions

Do I need a permit to park on campus after 5 p.m.?

Many areas of the campus are unrestricted after 5 p.m.; however, some areas are restricted until 10 p.m. and/or on weekends, and residence hall parking areas are restricted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Be sure to observe all signs before parking. back to General Questions

If I have a handicap plate/placard, can I use the handicap spaces on campus?

Without a Cornell parking permit, you may only use the metered parking spaces, and must pay the meter.All other parking on campus, including handicap parking, is by Cornell parking permit only. If you are a Cornell community member, you must obtain a Cornell handicap permit to park in general handicap spaces see Access information.

A visitor who has a handicap designation on their vehicle (plate/placard) may use a metered handicap parking space, or purchase a visitor permit at an information and parking booth and use the general handicap parking spaces. back to General Questions

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Student Answers

How much is a parking permit?

See information for undergraduate students or for graduate and professional students. back to Student Questions

Can I have parking permit for my residence hall and for my classes?

No. If you live on campus, you can purchase a permit for your residence hall area. If you feel you need a permit for more than one area of the campus, you may submit a letter of special request detailing your need. Be sure to supply documentation to support your request, such as your class and work schedule, a note from your dean or supervisor. back to Student Questions

I live in a residence hall. Do my friends have to purchase a parking permit when they visit on the weekend?

If your friend plans to park in a residential parking area they must purchase a permit, either at an information and parking booth or at 116 Maple Ave. While all residential lots are restricted 24 hours a day, seven days a week, check a map; most residential buildings are near other parking areas which are not restricted after 5 p.m. and/or on weekends. Be sure to observe all signs before parking. back to Student Questions

My landlord does not have enough parking for everyone in my building.

I live on Stewart Ave., can I purchase an 'SW' permit? No
I live on University Ave., can I purchase a 'WD' permit? No
I live on Triphammer Rd., can I purchase a 'ND' permit? No
I live on Edgemoor lane, can I purchase an 'EL' permit? No

Parking in residence hall lots is restricted to students living in university-owned housing. Consider purchasing the PlusPass--a parking permit for B lot (near the Vet College) that comes with a free OmniRide Pass for your Cornell ID. You can store your vehicle in B lot and use the bus to travel to class and home.

Can I register a friend's car and get a parking permit for him? (Example: My friend would like to park in the 'SW' lot. I live in Cascadilla Hall and he lives on Highland Place, can I register his car and obtain a permit for him?)

No. You may only purchase a permit for a vehicle you own or one that is owned by a member of your immediate family. Parking privileges are not transferable. back to Student Questions

When can I advance order parking for the next academic year?

The advance order period begins in April. If your vehicle is registered or you have a parking permit or transit pass, you will automatically receive an e-mail alerting you to the advance order process. If you have any questions email transportation@cornell.edu. back to Student Questions

Can I return my permit after the fall semester if I don't have my car anymore?

Yes. There are no refunds on permits returned after March 31. All refunds are based on our refund policy. back to Student Questions

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Faculty/Staff Answers

What is the Transportation Demand Management Program (TDMP)?

TDMP is a benefits package comprising a series of programs and support services targeted at reducing the number of single-occupant vehicles brought to campus by commuters. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

I am a new employee here at Cornell, do I need a permit to park?

Parking at Cornell is by permit only, M-F, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. If you intend to park on campus, you will need a parking permit. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

What do I need to get a permit?

Bring your appointment letter or a letter from your supervisor stating your employee status (regular employee or temporary employee) and the length of your appointment. You should also bring your vehicle's registration. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

How much does a parking permit cost?

We have a table of permit prices which also lists the discounts and rebates available if you share the ride with colleagues. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

Can I share my permit with another Cornell employee?

Yes, there are two ways employees can share permits:By RideSharing. Turn in your individual, paid parking permit, set up a RideShare group of two or more eligible employees, and you can receive discounts and rebates on your parking fees. Some groups may even qualify for a reserved parking space. RideSharing also makes you eligible for a slew of support services.

By carpooling. If you are not eligible for RideShare, you can still share access to a permit with another Cornell community member. You can have your vehicle's license plate listed on his or her permit, and he or she can be listed on yours. There are no discounts, rebates, or other TDMP benefits when you carpool--you may each hold an individual, paid permit. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

What permits are available for temporary employees?

Temporary employees appointed for less than six months are eligible for a free 'A' lot permit and bus pass. Permits for other campus lots can be issued for the length of the employees appointment, but must be paid for in full at the time of purchase. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

I have a new car and new plates. I participate in a demand management program and have perimeter book permits with my plate listed. What should I do?

Come to our office at 116 Maple Ave. Bring your book permits and your vehicle's registration (so you'll have all of the new info handy). You'll fill out a form and we'll print you new labels for your permits. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

What about if I want to take a bus to work, how can I get a bus pass?

As an employee, you can ride TCAT buses between the Cornell campus and downtown Ithaca and the airport - Monday-Friday - and pay no fare just by showing your Cornell photo ID when boarding. For seven-day-a-week transit privileges, please consider joining the OmniRide program instead of purchasing a parking permit.

If you don't yet have an ID card, or are a temporary employee, we'll issue you a temporary campus bus pass. Bus passes are valid on routes 31, 35, 50, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 92, and 93 between two Cornell facilities. Bring your appointment letter or a letter from your supervisor stating your employee status (regular employee or temporary employee) and the length of your appointment.

If you want to sign up for the OmniRide program, you must have a picture Cornell faculty, staff or affiliate ID card, be a regular Cornell employee receiving benefits, and be eligible for payroll deduction. Temporary employees appointed for less than six months are not eligible for OmniRide. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

What are the transit and parking options for retirees?

Retiree Transit Privileges
Cornell University retirees and professors emeriti are eligible to show their Cornell University ID card in lieu of paying the fare on TCAT buses; Cornell will pay their fare. This privilege is in effect Monday - Friday in TCAT's zone one. Zone one includes the City of Ithaca, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Kendal, the hospital, the airport, and the mall. Retirees who have returned to work at the university may be eligible for different and/or additional privileges.

Retiree Parking Privileges
All parking on campus, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., except in metered spaces and metered time-zone areas, is by permit only. You may stop at one of the four Parking and Information booths at the entrances to campus or at Commuter and Parking Services office at 116 Maple Avenue for more parking information or to obtain a permit. Parking on campus is generally open to the public all day on Saturday and Sunday and after 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, except in areas and spaces that are posted as reserved or restricted. Some parking restrictions are in force seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day. Please read signs carefully before entering a parking lot and/or parking space.

A. Retirees with 25-years of services (ID Card with a special 25-year sticker)
Professors Emeriti (with Emeritus ID card)When visiting the campus on an infrequent basis, these retirees may stop at one of the parking and information booths, show their I.D. card and receive a no-cost visitor-parking permit that provides all-day parking in the visitor areas. The visitor parking permit is also valid in the following parking areas signed: A, CC, CF, CP, E, K, ME, O, SA, R, TH, W, and WE.  If you are working or volunteering on a regular basis refer to section C.

B. Retirees with less than 25-years of service
When visiting the campus may purchase a visitor parking permit. Alternative parking is available in metered parking lots which are open to everyone. Metered lots provide parking at a per-hour rate and are located at Appel Common, Willard Straight Hall, the parking garage, Peterson lot (near the Dairy Store), and at the Vet College.

C. Retirees or Emeriti returning to work (part/full-time) or volunteering retirees who need special parking arrangements.


Please contact Commuter and Parking Services, 116 Maple Avenue, 607.255.PARK for more information about parking options and prices. back to Faculty/Staff Questions

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