Vehicle Operation on Campus

Responsible Officer: Vice President for Administration and Operations

Sponsoring Department: Police Department

Revision Date: 26 October 2004

Errors or changes to: netsolutions@uta.edu

  1. Purpose

    This procedure is published to minimize the potential for vehicle mishaps. Additionally, it will prevent campus streets from being unnecessarily blocked, and reduce damage to landscaped and unpaved areas.

    NOTE: Permanent deviations from this policy must be approved in writing by the Vice President for Administration and Campus Operations.

  2. Service Vehicle Definition

    A service vehicle is defined as a university, commercial or government vehicle acting in direct support of campus activities either by contract or responsibility and includes maintenance, vendor and utility vehicles.

  3. Vehicle Operation

    Any motorized vehicles with two or more wheels when using pedestrian areas will operate at 5 mph (walking speed) to ensure pedestrian safety is not jeopardized. Pedestrians have the right-of-way. Vehicles must not block pedestrian ways, fire exits, fire access routes or handicapped ramps. Be especially careful backing.

  4. Utility Vehicles (Scooters)

    Utility vehicles of less than fifty horse-power are authorized to use paved pedestrian areas. These vehicles must be operated in conformance with State motor vehicle laws when using streets. When using pedestrian areas, pedestrians have the right-of-way. Be especially careful backing.

  5. Vehicle Restrictions

    Vehicles of greater than fifty horsepower must have UTA Police Department approval to travel on any pedestrian area not designated in this procedure. To minimize traffic interference resulting from service vehicles stopping in "no parking" zones on busier campus streets, service vehicle stops have been placed on side streets. Therefore, without UTA Police Department approval, there will be no stopping of service vehicles in a traffic lane.

  6. Vehicles Off Hard Surfaces

    No driver will operate a vehicle off of hard surface (paved) areas without specific approval of his/her supervisor. Grass areas will not be used for shortcuts, routine travel or parking. Maintenance vehicles may travel on grass areas when required by work activities.

  7. Special Purpose Vehicles

    Special purpose vehicles such as a cherry picker or back hoe, ground maintenance units and digging equipment must be pre-positioned during non-class hours, if possible. Special purpose vehicles can not operate routinely on pedestrian walkways.

  8. Police Department Approval

    To obtain UTA Police Department approval for four wheeled and larger vehicles to use other than designated service points and pedestrian areas or for any vehicle to stop on public streets, the driver's SUPERVISOR must call the UTA Police Dispatcher at Ext. 23381 and advise the following:

    1. Supervisor's name and telephone number

    2. Type of vehicle and number.

    3. Reason for deviation from procedure.

    4. Route/stopping point.

    5. Beginning and estimated time the vehicle will be at the location.

  9. Violations

    Patrol officers will check with UTA Police Department dispatcher to determine if violation is authorized prior to issuing a citation.

  10. Gate "Key Card" for Controlled Parking Lots

    Mav Express Office will issue a gate "Mav Express card" to University departments and commercial agencies for their service vehicle access requirements.

  11. Servicing Points for Specific Buildings

    • ACTIVITIES BUILDING - Service vehicles may use the sidewalk area at the northeast corner of the Activities Building. Entry to the area will be from the parking lot north of the building. Vehicles may also use the Physical Education Building parking lot for access to the southeast corner. The road west of the outdoor swimming pool may be used for the southwest corner. Do not drive on patio between the Activities Building and the swimming pool.

    • ADVANCED ROBOTICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE - Use loading dock at northeast side of the building.

    • AERO RESEARCH CENTER - Use east driveway between the main building and compressor building. Do not park on Speer or Sixth Streets.

    • ARCHITECTURE BUILDING - Use north side loading dock or the dumpster pad at southeast corner of building.

    • ARLINGTON HALL - Use nearby parking lot or park vehicles on W. First St. or W. Third St. University vehicles must not park within 30 feet of an intersection or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant. University vehicles should not park in the main driveway as this is to be used for loading/unloading per Housing.

    • BRAZOS HOUSE - University vehicles will not use the "Brazos resident only loading/unloading" parking spaces.

    • BUSINESS BUILDING - Vehicles must not be parked on sidewalk. Do not park or stop on South West Street. Use curb outside the south main entrance and across from the Health Center on West 3rd at the northwest corner of the Business Building, or use parking south of the Central Utility Plant.

    • CAMPUS CENTER - Use parking area on west end of building or the area next to sidewalk on the south side of the building.

    • CARLISLE HALL - Use fire lane between old Power Plant and College Hall to open area just southeast of Ransom Hall. No vehicles are authorized between Ransom and Preston Halls or on the mall area north of those buildings. The Police Department can authorize a vehicle in this area on an emergency basis only.

    • CENTRAL UTILITY PLANT - Use parking area south of building on West 3rd Street.

    • COLLEGE HALL - Open area just southeast of Ransom Hall may be used, not the pedestrian walkways.

    • COOPER CENTER - Use adjacent parking lots.

    • DAVIS HALL - Use loading dock University vehicle spaces in Faculty Lot 9, or University vehicle parking area near loading dock. Vendor vehicles will use designated area of parking lot just south of Administrative parking. Service/maintenance vehicles are not authorized to stop at the main entrance to Davis Hall except in emergencies or for special reasons approved by the UTA Police Department.

    • ENGINEERING ANNEX - Use Engineering Annex parking lot northeast of the building or the parking lot just to the north with the use of a gate "key card."

    • ENGINEERING LAB BUILDING - Use nearby parking lots or West First Street.

    • FINE ARTS - Use south loading dock or Architecture Building north dock.

    • GEOSCIENCE - Use pedestrian vehicle access at northeast corner of the building. Care must be exercised when proceeding into the courtyard area. When pedestrian traffic is heavy, or when backing is required, extreme care must be taken.

    • HAMMOND HALL - Park at curb north of Trimble on West 3rd Street.

    • HEALTH CENTER - Service vehicles will park behind building in the yellow striped area just beyond ambulance parking spot. No parking on South West Street.

    • LIPSCOMB HALL - Use south parking lot with entry card or north lot. The curb south of the building is authorized for service vehicles. Care must be used to avoid blocking traffic, sidewalks or disabled parking. Do not stop on South Pecan. Do not stop on South Pecan.

    • LIBRARY - Dock area on east side of the building or west 4th street cul-de-sac. No vehicles are authorized on the mall in front of the building. Do not park so as to block traffic (i.e. cul-de-sac).

    • LIFE SCIENCE - Dock on southwest corner of building and West 4th Street north of entrance between building A & B sections. Do not block West 4th cul-de-sac traffic.

    • NANOTECHNOLOGY - Use loading dock area. For quick deliveries/service the curb next to the east side of the building may be used.

    • NEDDERMAN HALL (Formerly Engineering II) - Use northeast door on Yates Street. Park in the dumpster area. To park on Yates Street, special permission is required from the UTA Police Department.

    • NURSING BUILDING - Park on College Street at northwest corner of Nursing Building. If heavy tools or equipment are to be carried, vehicle may proceed to a point near the north wall handicap ramp at the northwest corner. Extreme care must be used when entering and leaving this pedestrian walkway area because of the periodic heavy pedestrian traffic. Service vehicles may use the area just north of the northeast entrance. Do not block sidewalk.

    • PHYSICAL EDUCATION BUILDING - Use gate "key card" and park in the lot next to the sidewalk at the northeast corner of the building. Service vehicles may also park in the driveway on the west side of the building for short periods of time.

    • PRESTON HALL - See Ransom Hall. Heavy loads using wheeled carts for delivery may park temporarily at the southwest corner of Preston Hall on the mall just west of the water fountain. Vehicles should park in a manner that will not restrict pedestrian traffic or vehicles going to the Science Building.

    • RANSOM HALL - Use the fire lane between the Central Utility Plant and College Hall to the open area just southeast of Ransom Hall. No vehicles will be authorized in the mall areas east or north of Ransom Hall without UTA Police permission.

    • SCIENCE BUILDING - Service vehicles will enter Science Building loading dock by crossing the mall to the Science Building.

    • THERMAL ENERGY PLANT - Use service entrance on the south side of building or parking lot on north side of building. Do not park along the yellow curb east of the Health Center, on West 3rd Street, or South Oak Street.

    • STADIUM (2nd Level) - Vehicles may enter southwest gate and proceed on the pedestrian walkway to the second level of the west stands.

    • STUDENT HOUSING APARTMENTS - Use adjacent parking lots. Service vehicles may also use the apartment side of the circular drive off of West 2nd Street and the curb next to the apartments in the south driving lot. Do not block traffic.

    • TENNIS CENTER - Enter the sidewalk access to the Tennis Center from the southwest corner of the large parking lot northwest of the Activities Building. Proceed slowly and stay in the center of the walkway to prevent damage to the sidewalk. Use extreme caution.

    • TEXAS HALL - Park at the University vehicle parking in the Davis Hall lot or loading dock on the north side of the building.

    • TRIMBLE HALL - Same as Hammond Hall.

    • TRINITY HOUSE - Use gate "key card" and park at the curb adjacent to the south side of Trinity Hall.

    • UNIVERSITY CENTER - Service vehicles will use the designated dock on the north side of the building or the service vehicle parking on the north side. No parking or driving on the mall area.

    • UNIVERSITY HALL - Service vehicles will use the pedestrian walkways at the southeast side of University Hall. Entry to the area will be at the Life Science Building loading dock driveway. No vehicles are authorized on the north side of the building.

    • WOOLF HALL - Use dumpster pad near northwest corner of the Engineering I Building. Special permission from the UTA Police Department is necessary to drive or park on the mall area.