The University of South Carolina is working on a campus master mobility study to address current parking and transportation challenges happening across campus to plan for future development.
The department of Parking and Transportation is looking to mirror the goals of USC Next, the university’s broader master plan that launched in 2024 for future campus development, by collecting data to guide future decisions about parking and transportation across campus, according to Parking and Transportation Director Brian Favela.
The study will run until April 2026 and will analyze current parking use, transportation routes and mobility options on campus to prepare for future expansion, Favela said.
The department wants to understand what parking will look like as campus continues to grow, according to Favela.
“I don’t have any desired outcomes other than what improves the students' experience," Favela said.
The study will heavily prioritize input from the university community. Student Government, housing organizations, graduate students, faculty and staff will be contributors to the study’s analysis.
“I want people to give us honest feedback about their experience,” Favela said. “Parking is the first and last experience each day ... we can apply technical knowledge to fix some of these problems, but really, that technical knowledge means nothing unless we impact that experience.”
Student Government will play a big role in the process by offering feedback on issues students face daily, according to Student Body President Courtney Tkacs.
“This is taking a holistic look not just at the university but at the surrounding city of Columbia as well,” Tkacs said.
There is a concern about limited parking spaces, expensive lots and difficulties with campus bus routes, according to Tkacs. The master mobility plan will help identify solutions to these issues.
“I’m just hoping for there to be streamlined communication about the steps that will be taken post-master mobility plan,” Tkacs said. “I want to make sure students are aware of the work that Parking and Transportation is doing.”
The study will examine if the university needs to add more parking or improve the spaces it already has. The department conducted a campus-wide count of all parking spaces to determine occupancy rates, according to Favela.
"There's two goals here. One is to understand, 'What does Parking and Transportation look like during construction?'" Favela said. "And two, 'What does Parking and Transportation look like when campus continues to grow?'"
Alina Tofiqul, a third-year public health student, said during her first year on campus, she was frustrated with parking.
“I wasn’t able to get a parking pass even though I (registered on time),” Tofiqul said. "This year, it hasn't been too bad, because I figured out where to park now, but for a lot of freshmen, I know that was a really big problem."
Tofiqul said she hopes the university considers lowering parking costs and providing more support for commuter students who live far from campus.
Favela said convenience remains one of the biggest challenges, rather than the number of spaces.
"A lot of places have parking, it’s just not where (people) want it,” Favela said.
The Department of Parking and Transportation will release the results of the study in April 2026. Until then, the department will gather student and faculty input through surveys.
“We’re a very fast growing community in a downtown, urban environment,” Favela said.
The master mobility study is about positive transportation growth making sure everyone is able to get where they need to, Favela said.
“I’m going into this with eyes wide open and ears wide open,” Favela said.