r/Duquesne • u/HiddenRouge1 • 19d ago
Regarding Parking
Hi there!
I am an incoming grad student at Duquesne, and I just took a look at the student parking rates. I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that it was $1100.00 for a full academic year, especially given that my last institution offered free student parking.
Is it really necessary to pay such a fee to park near campus? What other, cheaper or ideally free options might be available? I'd be willing to walk 15 to 20 minutes if necessary, and most of my seminars will be in College Hall.
Would you recommend public transit?
I'll be living in Squirrel Hill South, to give a reference for distance & advice.
Thank you
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u/CarefulOkra1598 19d ago
You could definitely take the bus to avoid paying the ridiculous parking cost. Even at $1,110, they still do not guarantee you a parking spot on campus. If you needed to drive to campus, you could park at UPMC Mercy and take a 10-minute walk to campus, but I wouldn’t treat it as a permanent parking option. I hope that helps!
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u/HiddenRouge1 19d ago
I will definitely look into the bus, then.
Regarding UPMC Mercy, why wouldn't you recommend it as a permanent parking option? Do they charge for parking as well?
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u/CarefulOkra1598 19d ago
Technically, Mercy’s parking is meant for hospital use, but I’ve parked there numerous times without any issues. However, they do charge per the hour there. I’ve never considered it a permanent parking option because I was concerned about receiving a ticket. As a graduate student, you most likely won’t be on campus five days a week, so it might be worth trying parking there occasionally if the bus doesn’t workout.
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u/HiddenRouge1 19d ago edited 19d ago
In my case, I actually will be on campus for multiple hours, five days a week, as that's also where my job will be.
By the way, are there student discounts on bus fares? I've always just used my car to commute, so I'm not fully sure how bus systems work.
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u/CarefulOkra1598 18d ago
Yes, there is a discount for students (https://www.duq.edu/life-at-duquesne/student-services/upass.php). I’m also curious, what department are you apart of in the school of liberal arts?
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u/-Alexnder- 19d ago
Monthly passes at most garages around are atleast $200 a month if not more. Or atleast they were in 2023. If you do get campus parking, I don’t recommend the surface only parking it’s a nightmare to find a spot.
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u/Rude_System_7863 19d ago
Public transit is definitely a good option- I have often ended up turning to this. I usually go to the Chatham Center garage when I drive, and I've never had trouble finding a spot there. At $14 for >2 hours, and $10 for 0-2 hours, it certainly isn't free, but it feels relatively reasonable for me. I've managed in the first two years of being a grad student at Duquesne, to make do without buying a parking pass. But, as other commenters have said, it's still quite a headache, and would be much better if there were more of a guarantee.
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u/Ok_Addition_3320 11d ago
Hi! I work at DUQ and bus to work from Squirrel Hill South. Check out the UPass system that we have: https://www.duq.edu/life-at-duquesne/student-services/upass.php
It's not the greatest discount but it helps. PRT is starting to introduce the new bus lanes though the University Line (goes past CMU, PITT, Carlow, Duq) that's supposed to make things a bit faster. I usually take the 52L or 53L that bypasses all of Oakland and gets you on 376 inbound and drops you off downtown, then walk to campus!
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u/diehardclevelander 18d ago
Hey there!
Unfortunately parking is really expensive. I’m also a grad student and I pretty much ate the cost. I’ve heard other students finding lease parking in other areas for a bit cheaper but still around $700-$900. I personally would recommend a car. Public transport is okay but it’s not fabulous especially as you’re a grad student and will mostly have less common hours and do most of your own cooking (need more grocery trips). Also, Pittsburgh is not the greatest public transport city in general. Another reason I have a car is because I’ve heard the transit can be pretty unpredictable but it might be an option if you have a pretty lax schedule. Personally, I feel my car and myself are safe in the Duq garage. It’s nice that I have a spot in the city center that I also use during events. The campus police do a nice job at keeping everything in order and I felt the peace of mind was worth it especially since it’s a covered garage.
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u/abeasom 19d ago
They make employees pay for parking as well. The more you make, the more your parking costs.