Pay To Park At Home?

EL PASO, TX — With more and more UTEP students parking off-campus, parking in surrounding neighborhoods is now at a premium. And a premium is what more Kern Place residents may have to pay just for the privilege to park in front of their own homes.

It’s already the law of the land in some parts of the quaint neighborhood that wraps around the foothills of the Franklin Mountains. Streets that could also be subjected to those parking fees include Blanchard, University and Kerbey.

UTEP officials have said the 9,000 parking places around the campus, including a new parking garage, is enough room to accommodate the 20,000 students who attend classes there.

Fees start at $75, an amount officials say is low, when compared to other campuses.

If the city opts to expand the pay-for-parking fees, residents will be required to purchase a blue permit for their cars, which are renewable at the rate of $10 a year.

A public meeting to discuss the issue is scheduled for 7 p.m.Thursday at the El Paso Tennis and Swim Club, at 2510 N. Saint Vrain.

Reported for broadcast by Martin Bartlett

Edited for KVIA.com by Kevin Pytcher