FAIRFIELD – At Solano College the parking pass costs 32 dollars, and parking amnesty is granted for the first two weeks of every semester. It doesn’t seem like much, but when you are struggling to make ends meet, even 32 dollars can make an impact.

When I was using the temporary pass it took 2 days after the expiration date before my actual permit came in the mail. And while you are able to contact the parking services in this case, it is a burden on students as they enter the beginning weeks of the semester.

When asked, Solano student Zuriel Sanchez said,“The parking pass is fine. I don’t really like it. I always forget to buy it until the last minute and then I’m always feeling stressed waiting for it to come. Like they give me a temporary permit but the actual parking permit usually comes after it expires. If it came on time I wouldn’t be so stressed.”

As community colleges move towards other programs that limit costs for students, an invisible yet ever present cost is parking, which every student forced to commute to campus has to bear. Other programs like the Zero Textbook Cost Program are aimed at knocking down the price of an education, but another easy step is to implement a free parking pass.

In looking for an answer for parking, I found that the Student Senate for California Community Colleges discussed this topic in 2024. Advocating for a needs based idea of parking passes, wherein they would cost different amounts depending on the students’ need for the parking pass.

Another sting to the cost of parking is that the campus is not a residential campus, meaning that students must find some way to get to campus, whether that be driving, taking the bus, riding a bike, or other means of transportation.

Avanni Block, student from Vallejo campus remarked, “Free permits would make things easier and more affordable, encouraging more students to attend in-person classes, spend time on campus, and take advantage of the resources available. I believe more students would choose in-person classes if permits didn’t cost extra.”

However, we do have to acknowledge that Solano Community College is offering a parking pass that is below the maximum price they are able to have their parking pass. According to the California Community College website the maximum price a community college is allowed to charge per quarter term is 35 dollars.

Some ways the college supports students who cannot afford a parking pass are free transportation through the bus system with the student ID, and the Falcon Flyer, which transports students from across the three Solano College Campuses (For more information visit the Basic Needs Linktree).

Another resource for financial help through the college is the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).