The University of Southern Maine has recently made some changes to its automated parking enforcement system. This was partially in response to numerous complaints from local residents who received notices of unexpected $55 fines after using one of the Gorham or Portland parking lots while accessing various campus facilities that the public is encouraged to visit. In Gorham, these facilities include the gymnasium and field house, Corthell Concert Hall, Russell Theater, the art gallery, the ice hockey facilities, and several other locations, such as outdoor athletic fields and sidelines.
In general, the complaints centered around the complexities community people faced in paying for on-campus parking by using the required HonkMobile app or website on their smartphones. Other concerns related to difficulties people had in resolving disputes with the university’s contracted parking agency after they received one of the $55 parking fines. Some people have also informed USM that they could not access the parking payment system because they do not own or fully utilize a smartphone.
In response to these concerns, the university has introduced the “Gorham Permit,” a prepaid parking option which allows any member of the general public to purchase a monthly unlimited access permit for many USM Gorham parking lots. The permit also includes some access to other Gorham campus lots, but with more limited hours. The monthly cost of the pass is $3.00, and there is also a modest credit card processing fee each month.
Campus parking lot users who wish to sign up for the Gorham Permit online can access the USM Parking Services webpage. They should then scroll down the page to the section labeled “Visitors.” Eleven lines below “Visitors” is a line that has “Permits: 24/7 Permit, Portland Permit, Gorham Permit.” They can then click on “Gorham Permit” and follow all the written instructions. There is also an option to set up a “Gorham Permit” account by phoning USM Parking Services.
The university also recently announced that it has increased the parking lot “grace period” to 30 minutes (from ten minutes). This should benefit local community residents who are still paying for parking through HonkMobile each time they drive onto a campus lot, as there can be occasions when some logistical factor might make it difficult to pay for parking through the HonkMobile app within ten minutes of driving onto a campus lot.
The university is continuing to remind members of the public that there is no free parking on campus at any time (except for the 30 minute “grace period” when initially driving onto campus), and that parking needs to be paid for in advance through one of several payment options. Anyone with further questions can phone USM Parking Services at (207) 780-4718.