St. Thomas officials may have put an end to students’ complaints about high-priced parking permits.

Parking and Transportation Services lowered the price of commuter permits from $250 to $200 a year, and added a new non-resident overnight permit for commuting students who live near campus, but need parking space.

Public Safety Department Director Dan Meuwissen said prices were lowered in an effort to increase demand for parking.

“It’s a business decision. We’re looking at trying to utilize our resources, and if we utilize our resources, that certainly benefits our students as well,” Meuwissen said. “If we can have full parking lots and full facilities, that means you are paying less.”

Junior Ashley Bauman said the lower price impacted her decision to purchase a permit this year.

“Me being a commuter, it definitely helped play a role with the prices being lowered,” Bauman said. “Before last year, I thought about purchasing a permit, but the prices were so high that it was completely out of the question.”

While both commuter and non-resident permits cater to different needs, Meuwissen said the passes share the same purpose.

“They’re both designed to get our students’ vehicles on campus and into our facilities as opposed to being on the streets, and that benefits both you and us,” Meuwissen said.

Bauman said cheaper permits provide students with more options.

“I think it gives students more opportunities to kind of live a more financially stable life instead of living on campus, which a lot of people can’t exactly afford sometimes, especially for an expensive private college,” Bauman said. “I think it gives students the opportunity to live in the city, and live the life that maybe they wanted.”

While driving commuters may be thrilled about cheaper permits, commuters riding the bus don’t reap the same benefits with the C-Pass.

“When I first heard about it, I thought it was a little unfair … it seems a little off because I can get it for cheaper as a (University of Minnesota) student,” junior Azlin Almanzar said.

Meuwissen reassures student interest is what continues to drive his department’s decisions.

“If we have availability of the space, and we can offer that program, or programs to the student to support them, we’re gonna try to do that,” Meuwissen said.

Eden Checkol can be reached at chec7168@stthomas.edu.