Carrboro Lot Features Free Parking

The new 441-space Jones Ferry Park-Ride lot opened Monday and provides free parking for Chapel Hill, Carrboro and University commuters.

The lot is located a 10-minute bus ride away from campus and is serviced by three bus lines.

The CM and the CW bus lines service the lot every 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the day, and the Jones Ferry Express bus arrives every 10 to 15 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

The first bus departs at 6:20 a.m., and the last bus arrives at 9:17 p.m.

Funds from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, the University, the state of North Carolina and the Federal Transit Administration budgets shouldered the $994,000 construction cost of the lot.

Rick Hannegan, assistant transportation director for Chapel Hill, said students and employees at UNC Hospitals and the University will be the lot's primary users.

"I would guess it's going to be evenly split because it serves the southern part of campus," he said.

In a press release, Chapel Hill Town Manager Cal Horton said the project will enhance the daily commute for many residents and cut down on pollution and traffic congestion in the towns.

Carrboro Town Manager Bob Morgan said both Chapel Hill and Carrboro will reap the benefits of the parking lot. "It's beneficial to both towns," he said.

Hannegan said that construction of the lot began in midsummer but that the idea for the lot was proposed years ago. "It's been in the plans since the Carrboro (Plaza) lot was built three years ago," he said.

Hannegan said overnight parking in the lot might not always be free.

"There's a potential in the future to issue overnight parking passes," he said.

The plans for the lot originally included charging for overnight parking permits, but developers have yet to reach a concrete decision.

In the N.C. 54 park and ride lot, overnight parking is free. But in the Carrboro Plaza lot, commuters must buy a pass to park overnight.

Hannegan said the passes for the new lot would cost less than $20 per month.

He said that only a small percentage of the spaces are being used so far but that he expects more people to park in the lot as news spreads.

"The first day we had about 15 cars there," Hannegan said. "Once we get about a month under our belts we should have a better indication."

He said that the lot is well-lit and that some wiring is already in place to install security cameras. He said Carrboro police officials are likely to add the lot to their patrols in the future.

Hannegan also pointed out the aesthetic aspects of the lot.

"It's not your typical parking lot," he said. "It's not flat. It's got contours and hills, and it's surrounded by trees."

Hannegan commended the abilities of those who worked on the lot's construction to cooperate for the benefit of each of their communities.

"It's great that the University, Chapel Hill and Carrboro can work together," Hannegan said. "It's something that really benefits the people who live here."

The City Editor can be reached

at citydesk@unc.edu.