MISSION
The RPI Parking and Transportation Department is committed to clear communication and meeting the needs of the campus community. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, contractors, and guests who drive, park on RPI property, or use Institute-paid parking.
All vehicles must have a valid parking permit - no exceptions. Permits are required, not optional.
Permits help to:
- Ensure fair and consistent parking enforcement
- Identify authorized vehicles on campus
- Assist Public Safety in detecting unauthorized or suspicious vehicles
- Vehicles that are not registered may be treated as unauthorized.
POLICY SUMMARY
This policy applies to vehicles with license plates from any U.S. state or Canadian province.
All vehicles on RPI property must be registered and have a virtual parking permit (available at rpi.aimsparking.com). Parking regulations are enforced 24/7.
Accessible Parking:
Vehicles must be registered and display a government-issued accessibility permit.
Failure to meet both requirements may result in a citation or towing. (RPI does not issue accessibility permits.)
Restricted Areas:
The inner campus is primarily pedestrian-only. Access is limited to emergencies, service, approved vehicles, or those with accessibility needs.
General Rules:
- Speed limit: 10 mph
- All roads are designated fire lanes—parking is prohibited
- Do not park in blocked areas, alleyways, drive aisles, sidewalks, grass, or pathways
Do not move barricades
Additional Notes:
- First-year students are not permitted to have vehicles on campus
- Violations may result in fines or towing (at the owner’s expense)
- Vehicles must be parked within marked spaces
- Permits are first-come, first-served and not guaranteed
STUDENT PARKING PERMITS
First-year students are not permitted to bring vehicles to campus. Medical exceptions may be requested through Access & Neurodiverse Student Success and is located in 4600 Academy Hall.
Student permits are assigned based on residence location and are linked to the vehicle’s license plate—no physical permit is required.
- Students may have only one permit
Permits are not valid in faculty/staff lots
Restricted Faculty/Staff Lots Include:
Academy Hall, AS&RC/G, Armory, J Lot, North Lot (Blue Lines), West Lot, Winslow, and 41 9th Street. Students parked in these areas will receive a citation.
Permit Details:
- Available annually (08/01–07/31) or by semester
- Issued on a first-come, first-served basis
- Charges are applied to the student’s Bursar account or paid via credit card (MasterCard and Visa accepted)
FACULTY/STAFF PERMITS
Faculty and staff are eligible for annual parking permits, with prices varying by parking lot.
Permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis
- Fees are payroll-deducted (credit cards are not accepted)
- Each permit may include up to three registered vehicles
Permits are license plate-based; no physical permit is required
Important:
- Permit sharing is prohibited
Vehicles may not be left on campus during extended absences (e.g., vacation or business travel)
SERVICE PERMITS
Service permits provide access to parking near campus buildings for work-related purposes. These permits are issued through select departments with approval from the Parking and Transportation Department.
DEPARTMENT PERMITS
Department permits allow staff to park in multiple locations as needed.
Purchased via departmental charge
Reserved spaces are available at $2,500 per space
VISITOR PARKING
- Visitors must obtain a daily or hourly permit Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.
- Visitor parking is first-come, first-served
- Permits can be purchased at rpi.aimsparking.com
- Hourly parking is available via AIMS or the AMP Mobile app
- QR codes are posted on parking signs for convenience
SPECIAL EVENTS PARKING
Advance Request:
- Requests must be submitted at least 30 days in advance. Large events (50+ vehicles) require six months’ notice.
- Parking Assignment:
Parking is assigned to designated areas only. - Cost:
$10 per vehicle per day (purchase at rpi.aimsparking.com) - Department-Paid Events:
Departments must submit permit registrations through AIMS and provide an FTR form to parking@rpi.edu
Contact:
Phone: 518-276-6616
Email: parking@rpi.edu
ADA/504
RPI provides accessible parking accommodation in compliance with ADA regulations.
To use accessible parking:
- Vehicles must have a valid RPI permit
- A government-issued accessibility permit must be clearly displayed and visible from outside the vehicle.
EV CHARGING
- RPI offers EV charging stations at four campus locations.
- Valid permit required for the lot
- 4-hour charging limit
- Stations are first-come, first-served
- Vehicles must be moved after charging is complete
Vehicles exceeding the time limit may receive a citation.
ENFORCEMENT
Parking regulations are enforced 24/7, year-round. Violations may result in citations or towing. The Institute is not required to mark all restricted areas; drivers are responsible for compliance. It is the parkers responsibility to check all signs in the area for guidance.
Common Violations and Fines:
- No active permit: $50–$150 (progressive); 5th violation = towing
- Fire lane / hydrant: $100
- Accessible violation: $250
- Unauthorized permit use: $151
- Gate tampering: $400
- EV overstay: $50
- Abandoned vehicle: towing
Additional violations apply for improper parking, obstruction, and restricted areas.
TICKET APPEAL PROCESS
Submitting an Appeal:
- Submit within 10 calendar days via rpi.aimsparking.com
- Decisions are made within 5 business days
- Late appeals will not be accepted
- If Denied:
- You may request an in-person hearing with the Ticket Appeals Board
- Decisions are final
If Approved:
No further action is required
Invalid Reasons for Appeal Include:
- Lack of knowledge of parking rules
- Disagreement with regulations
- Short-term illegal parking
- Weather conditions
- Being late
- Permit unavailability
- Following incorrect instructions
- Financial hardship
Lack of signage
PARKING RATES – please visit ---Parking Permits | Administration Division
Parking for Institute Winter Break
In order to clear campus parking lots for events, construction, and/or snow removal, the College Avenue parking garage will be made available starting at 5:00 pm on Friday for registered campus parking permit holders to leave their vehicle on campus for the break. Vehicles must be parked on the 4th floor of the garage with license plates visible from the driving lane. Vehicles left for winter break must be removed from the garage no later than noon on the first day of classes.
Any temporary vehicles in the garage after noon on the first day of classes, vehicles left in any other campus parking lot, or vehicles left during the break without a valid permit, will be subject to $500 abandoned vehicle fine and removal by Kennedy’s Towing in Troy (518) 272-3881. Vehicle owner will be responsible for all towing/storage/recovery and related fees.
Students remaining on campus for the winter break with a vehicle must contact Parking and Transportation before December 20th to make arrangements – 518-276-6616.
Snow Events
In anticipation of snow events throughout the course of the winter, after a snowfall please be prepared to move your vehicle to an assigned lot temporarily for snow removal. Removal operations happen within 24-48 hours of the end of the storm and details will be provided as quickly as possible for where you should relocate to, when, and for how long. Vehicles hindering snow removal will be subject to fines, loss of parking privileges, and/or towing.