As of July 1, 2022

Parking Lots and Privileges

• The Crescent Lot (Campus Rd) and the Dwyer Dam/Oxley Lot (Rt 366) are transitioning from permit-restricted parking to Daily Decision ParkMobile-only parking.
  • Crescent Lot day rate will be $4.50 (plus $.45 fee). Introductory rate of $1/Day for Zone 4131 in the month of July.
  • Dwyer Dam/Oxley Lot day rate will be $2.50 (plus $.45 fee).
• Alumni Field Lot is restricted to N permit parking in response to the loss of the Bruckner Lot on Tower Rd.
  • J and L permit holders no longer have lateral parking privileges in the N area.
  • Parkmobile Zone 4128 discontinued.
• C Permit areas are restricted to C (and higher-tier) parking allowing for tighter management of the spaces.
  • G permit holders no longer have lateral parking privileges in Campus Rd C areas. 
• G permits are valid only in the Hoy Garage and all lower-tiered parking areas (A, E, ME, O, R, WE).
• Expand east campus O (employee) and B (student) permit parking areas.
  • North Morrison Lot (Judd Falls Rd) transitions to the O/B permit area at a reduced annual fee.

Student Commuter Parking Permits

• Discontinue sales of the SC (student commuter) permit.
  • SC permits remain valid in 2021-2022 SC permit areas until August 31, 2022.
  • Commuting students can take advantage of the low-cost Daily Decision areas which now include the Crescent Lot, or opt for the east campus B permit.
  • Costs in most Daily Decision areas are far below the annual SC permit rate when considering a typical academic year of 180 days.
• Student commuter B permit privileges expanded to all O permit areas.
  • O permit areas were already shared with student SC permit holders.
• Student ND permits will be valid in the North Campus A Lot.

Parking Programs

• Adjusting Daily Decision rates in response to demand.

• Discontinuing the employee TDM one-day permit program.
  • Parking technology has evolved allowing us to provide customers with on-demand, contactless, self-service solutions like Daily Decision, a deeply discounted parking option using ParkMobile.
    • Alternatives to the occasional-use permits include a free virtual permit for the North Campus A Lot and Daily Decision parking.
    • Unlimited transit privileges on TCAT buses are universal to all employees regardless of whether they have an annual parking permit.
    • Participants in the RideShare carpool program continue to receive a significant reduction in permit costs through their commitment to sharing the ride to campus.
    • Current TDM permits expire on December 31, 2022.

Mistall Parking Guidance

Mistall provides an occupancy management platform to track parking data and deliver real-time parking availability to customers. Transportation Services will implement and test the technology in the Campus Rd Crescent Lot beginning in Fall 2022.

LPR Upgrades

A second License Plate Recognition system is being added to the Transportation Services fleet in order to test the transition from physical hangtags to virtual parking permits using license plates as the parking credential.

Transportation Services continues to provide both transportation programs and support services to ensure that faculty, staff, and students can make it to campus—and back home again—with relative ease. Some services are available through our community partners.

Access to Free Parking

The outer-tier A Lot permit remains free and available to regular full- and part-time employees and is regularly served by TCAT. Outer-tier E permits are restricted to employees working in the associated permit area and are not charged because they are in locations not readily served by public transit. The value of this subsidized parking option is $333.

Backup Ride Home

Ithaca's Center for Community Transportation (CCT) offers a Backup Ride Home for community members with an unexpected need to return home and conventional methods are not feasible. CCT's service replaces the discontinued Emergency Ride service. Visit https://www.the-cct.org/backupridehome for more information and to enroll.

Bus Service and Transit Access

All Cornell employees (including temporary employees and affiliates) and retirees can use their CU photo ID card at the farebox when boarding TCAT buses to ride anywhere TCAT goes, any time TCAT runs—Cornell pays the fare (a value of $450). This unlimited ride privilege allows employees more flexibility in planning their commute and can help reduce the number of vehicles on campus.

New-to-Cornell students also enjoy unlimited access to TCAT buses in their first year as matriculated students. All others receive free access evenings after 6 and all day Saturday and Sunday. Students can purchase the deeply discounted OmniRide student bus pass for unlimited rides using their CU ID.

Transit riders who use regional bus services (Chemung/Cortland) can join OmniRide. A portion of the regional providers’ bus pass fee is paid by Cornell; employees pay the remaining cost via payroll deduction. These program participants also enjoy unlimited access to TCAT buses.

Daily Decision Parking

To accommodate the “new normal” of flex- and remote-work and class schedules, Cornell University has implemented the Daily Decision parking option. Anyone needing only occasional access to campus can opt to use ParkMobile to purchase a low-cost, virtual parking permit for as little as $1 a day in select zones.

Finger Lakes Rideshare - Ridematching Services

Transportation Services has partnered with area agencies to provide a county-wide ridematching service powered by Finger Lakes Rideshare and NY511. Anyone can use the service to get a one-time ride, form a carpool, or add members to a RideShare group.

Ithaca Carshare

Ithaca Carshare is a community-based carsharing service. Members have self-serve access to cars around Ithaca and Cornell. Membership discounts are available for Cornell students and employees.

Park & Ride

There are several Park and Ride locations in Tompkins County that allow all-day free parking to catch a bus or meet up with a carpool partner. Always gain permission from the property owner if parking in a location not designated as a Park & Ride.

Share the Ride

Employees and students alike can share the ride to work or school. Any Cornell community member can join a carpool and split commuting and parking costs.

The RideShare permit program is restricted to university-benefit eligible employees who pledge to share the ride at least three days a week.

Way2Go

Way2Go is a community partner, transforming the culture of transportation among users, providers, and decision-makers. Through collaborative workshops, projects and events, Way2Go helps people save money, stress less, go green and improve mobility options.

ParkMobile Parking Map

Faculty/Staff Parking Map

Student Parking Map

This section will be updated as we respond to customer questions.

When can I renew my current permit? Please see the Annual Permit Renewal page.

I want to change permits. How can I do that? Employees can complete the Permit Purchase Agreement Form to make a request. Some permits may not be available due to eligibility rules. If the permit request is approved, Transportation Services will complete the transaction using payroll installments as the default payment method, if eligible, or will contact the requestor for an alternative form of payment, if necessary.