More seats on the bus

UTRGV Parking and Transportation has updated its resources for the Fall semester and has reinstated parking permits and made more seating available on the Vaquero Express.

Parking permits are being reinforced this semester due to some of the UTRGV community resuming classes on campus, according to Rodney Gomez, executive director of Parking and Transportation.

Parking permits were not enforced from September 2020 to August 2021 due to the majority of classes being moved online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They are going to be requiring permits this semester and the spring semester,” Gomez said.

He said everything will remain the same as in past years regarding prices and zones for permits.

UTRGV Parking and Transportation had a delay regarding parking permits ordered online because of the third party used for delivery.

“Just a reminder: when you order your permit online, you can print the receipt or temporary permit and place it on your dash until your permit arrives,” according to a post on Aug. 22 from the UTRGV Parking and Transportation Facebook page.

However, graduate student Crystal Ballin was told by a parking enforcement assistant Aug. 23 that she was not allowed to place a receipt as a temporary parking permit.

On Aug. 23, UTRGV Parking and Transportation posted on its Facebook page, “Waiting for your permit to arrive? Don’t sweat it; print out your permit receipt and display it on your dash.”

Students can purchase parking permits online through the Parking and Transportation Services website at utrgv.t2hosted.com/Account/Portal.

Parking permits are available for purchase at the Police and Parking & Transportation Offices building on the Edinburg campus and in the Vaquero Plaza, building A, on the Brownsville campus.

The department has also implemented technology in three parking lots, allowing students to view how many parking spaces are available. Counters have been added to Lot B-1 on the Brownsville campus, and two were added to Lots E-32 and E-9 on the Edinburg campus. Updates on the availability of parking spaces are posted on its website for students to be able to find parking faster.

Parking and Transportation Services updated riding rules for Vaquero Express vehicles.

According to Gomez, the Vaquero Express vehicles no longer have limited seating to maximize the number of passengers.

However, safety riding rules on all transportation are still being implemented inside the vehicles. When riding any Vaquero Express transportation, passengers must wear masks, and sanitation and social distancing while waiting to board will be required.

“Vaquero Express, it operates as a federally funded public transit provider,” Pablo Aguilar, director of Parking Services said during a Facebook Live Student Government Association meeting last Tuesday. “It will only operate under the safety conditions or those controls that are in place by the [Federal Transit Administration].”

Vaquero Express vehicles are being sanitized regularly.

“We have a break scheduled at the end of the shift, at the beginning of the shift, and during the end of trip times,” Gomez said.

For Vaquero Express transportation schedules, visit the Parking and Transportation website.