New Parking and Transportation Updates: Permit Strategy and Expanded Capacity 

Parking and Transportation has been hard at work to prepare for an amazing start to the 2026-27 academic year. Here are some exciting changes to be on the lookout for this fall. Key changes include: 

  • Added nearly 600 student parking spaces in commuter, residential, and economy areas across the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses since start of Spring 2026. 
    • In Kennesaw nearly 300 spaces were added across the NEW Economy Lot at 1000 Gutenberg Drive, the North Deck, and Chastain Pointe. 
    • In Marietta, nearly 300 spaces were added across East Economy, the Shuttle Lot, West Residential, Central 1, and South Lot (formerly West Lot). Additional spaces were also made available to KSU students following the completion of construction of the Robin and Doug Shore Innovation Center. 
  • Limited the number of permits sold in lots and decks at the core of campus to help reduce congestion. Based on real-time occupancy data, additional permits may become available in these areas later in the semester. 
  • Increased the overall number of permits available in Economy and Shuttle Lots, plus added new Big Owl Bus routes serving these areas. 
  • Introduced new Residential Economy and Shuttle Lot permit options in select areas, offering parking for residential students at a lower cost.
  • Expanded Big Owl Bus service with updated routes that include two NEW routes that provide continuous service around Kennesaw and Marietta campuses, and an optimized Kennesaw/Marietta Route designed to reduce both wait and travel times between campuses.  
  • Updated enforcement procedures to ensure parking availability for permit holders. Please note, enforcement will begin the first week of the semester. 

Introducing a New Big Owl Bus Fleet

rendering of the new big owl bus wraps

A new Big Owl Bus fleet is rolling onto campus in Fall 2026. In addition to refreshed designs coming this fall, the expanded fleet features a bold new look and new hybrid vehicles designed to support greener transportation across campus. With more buses on the road and updated shuttle routes, riders can expect shorter wait times, increased service capacity, and a smoother commute throughout the day. 

Graphics will be added to the new fleet as quickly as possible. In the meantime, keep an eye out for buses with a sleek, all-black finish traveling around campus. 

 

Visitor Parking is Now Hourly Paid Parking 

Beginning Fall 2026, Visitor Parking will be renamed Hourly Paid Parking. These spaces are available to anyone — not just campus visitors. 

If you choose not to purchase a parking permit, you may park in these areas by paying for the time you are parked. Spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis. A valid fall permit is still required in all other parking areas. 

Visitor Resources

 

Partnership with Cobb County 

In addition to our partnership with CobbLinc, KSU has established a framework agreement to address traffic operations and pedestrian safety along Frey Road. The project will include traffic studies, concept development, and construction planning for improvements between Chastain Road and Skip Spann Connector. Collaborative planning efforts aim to enhance safety and mobility in a high-traffic, campus-adjacent corridor. 

 

Micromobility Safety 

As the use of electric scooters and other micromobility devices continues to grow, we are taking steps to enhance safety for all campus users. Permanent micromobility signage will be installed across both campuses to reinforce the following guidelines:

  • Walk micromobility devices across all crosswalks  
  • Yield to pedestrians when riding on sidewalks  
  • Maintain a slow speed in high-traffic areas; walking devices is strongly encouraged in spaces with high traffic 

NEW: Micromobility charging stations are now available outside the Carmichael Student Center in Kennesaw and near Stingers in Marietta. For safety reasons, micromobility devices are not allowed inside KSU buildings.

Micromobility Rules and Regulations

 

License Plates and Vehicle Registration 

KSU utilizes License Plate Recognition (LPR) to monitor parking on campus with your vehicle’s license plate serving as your virtual parking permit.

Permit holders are required to park with the license plate visible from the drive lane. If you prefer to back-in or pull through spaces, front permit plates are available for purchase at the Talon One office.  

KSU also uses Retrieval of Vehicle Registration (RoVR) technology to identify registered owners of vehicles that either have not purchased a permit or have not registered their vehicle in the Parking Portal.  

Students are responsible for registering their vehicle and keeping the license plate information for any vehicle driven to campus up to date in the Parking Portal. 

KSU Parking Portal

 

Check back for more updates from Parking and Transportation as the year continues!