Tennessee Tech is listening.
Parking Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the university’s plan to improve parking experiences for students, faculty and staff.
As universities across the country grow, campuses are taking a thoughtful approach to parking and transportation — balancing convenient campus access with pedestrian and bicyclist safety, the preservation of green spaces and responsible investment in parking infrastructure, which is typically not eligible for public funding.
At Tennessee Tech, we recognize that parking is an important part of how you experience campus. Here are the facts about parking at Tech, along with the university’s immediate and long-term plans to provide additional parking options for students, faculty and staff.
- Tennessee Tech has reduced parking costs for students: Beginning this semester, Tennessee Tech replaced the $130-per-semester student parking permit with a $100-per-semester transportation charge included within each student’s fees. Students who park on campus will save $60 during the 2026-27 academic year compared with the previous year.
- Parking infrastructure is not eligible for public funding: The university cannot access public funding for parking infrastructure like it can for new academic buildings. The university must fund new parking infrastructure through university resources.
- University employees also pay to park: Tennessee Tech employees – from the president to the newest faculty and staff hires – also pay for parking. Most university employees pay between $280 to $310 for general parking. This academic year, university employees were also given the option to purchase a reserved parking spot on a first-come, first-served basis for $800.
What is Tennessee Tech’s current parking inventory?
Tennessee Tech currently has nearly 5,000 parking spaces across campus. Nearly 4,000 spaces can be used by students or employees. Approximately 750 spaces are designated specifically for employees, while approximately 40 spaces are designated for visitors.
The current parking inventory represents a modest reduction from last year’s available parking due to construction perimeters for the university’s new Advanced Construction and Manufacturing Engineering (ACME) Building and J.J. Oakley Innovation Center & Residence Hall.
Still, the university continues to uphold best practices for university parking which recommend one parking space for roughly every four students. Importantly, not all students, faculty and staff are on campus at any one time.
Long-Term Plan: New Parking Garage
In a historic first, Tennessee Tech’s Board of Trustees recently approved construction of a new parking garage in the heart of campus with more than 800 parking spaces. The future garage will be constructed where Tech’s tennis courts are located today – meaning no existing parking spaces will be lost during construction. The tennis courts will be relocated across Willow Avenue. The parking garage will soon enter the design phase, with construction expected to be completed in fall 2028.
Short-Term Plan: Continuous Shuttle Improvements, More Parking on Both Sides of Willow Avenue
While the new garage is being planned, Tennessee Tech is taking immediate steps to add parking capacity this semester, including a former gravel lot along North Whitney Avenue that is being converted to a paved lot with new lighting and is expected to reopen around the end of September. This will provide 120 additional parking spaces on the west end of campus.
As of this writing, the university is also in the process of moving construction materials and university-owned vehicles out of the rear West Lot across Willow Avenue so these spaces can be used by students, faculty and staff.
The university is continuing to fine-tune operations for its free campus shuttle, including evaluating routes and schedules to improve wait times and efficiency.
Where are my best options to find parking on weekdays during the semester?
Parking remains available every day in the purple-zoned West Lot across Willow Avenue, near Tech Village and the Intramural Fields.
Regardless of where you park, a free and convenient shuttle is ready to take you from your parking spot to destinations across campus from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day that classes are in session. No sign-up or pass is required – simply hop on and hop off.
You can visit this webpage or download the PassioGo! app in the Apple Store or on Google Play to see real-time updates on the shuttles' locations.
Are there alternative ways to get to campus?
For some students, getting to class on two wheels can be a great way to save costs and stay closer to the center of campus.
Bike racks are available at many buildings across campus, with the largest being a covered space behind the Roaden University Center – near the fire pit and the ground floor entrance. Construction on a larger indoor, controlled-access bicycle shelter is underway now.
For those without a bicycle of their own, Tech's Bike Share program allows students to check out a bicycle, helmet and bike lock for up to two weeks at a time. Stop by the Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation & Fitness Center to learn more.
How can students provide feedback?
University administrators have met regularly with a student workgroup and with members of the Student Government Association as they weigh parking decisions. Students can also provide feedback at parking@tntech.edu or through their elected SGA leadership.