University of La Laguna to Implement Automated Parking System to Incentivize Carpooling
The University of La Laguna is implementing an automated parking system backed by €530,000 in funding to prioritize high-occupancy vehicles and reduce campus traffic congestion.
The University of La Laguna (ULL) is set to overhaul how it manages parking by introducing an automated access control system. As reported by Televisión Canaria, the university is launching a new strategy to encourage carpooling, aiming to reduce parking congestion and improve traffic flow around the campus.
Backed by €530,000 in funding from the Cabildo de Tenerife, the project involves installing smart barriers across 13 campus parking lots. These barriers will prioritize "high-occupancy vehicles"—defined as those carrying two or more people. This system is not intended to reserve all spaces exclusively, but rather to provide preferential access for those who share their rides.
The university is currently testing the technology at its Pharmacy and Economics faculties. During these pilot trials, staff are manually checking vehicle occupancy to grant access to reserved spots while gathering data on how students and staff commute. Early findings confirm that most people currently drive alone, which is the primary cause of the university’s ongoing parking shortages.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to make commuting to campus more sustainable and efficient. By incentivizing carpooling, the ULL hopes to lower its carbon footprint and ease traffic pressure. With the contracts now finalized, the university expects the new automated system to encourage students and staff to change their habits and make carpooling a more attractive alternative to driving alone.