Parking was an epidemic problem before construction crews broke ground on both a new parking garage in Lot 4 near the University Union and the 34,000 square foot Regional and Continuing Education building in the Overflow Lot. By next fall it could be a disaster.

The new parking garage, which cleared 275 spots from the beginning year total of 8,548, is not scheduled to be completed until next October. Parking and Transportation is optimistic that it can be completed ahead of schedule. The State Hornet urges them to be more cautious in their optimism, considering the past disruption caused by late construction efforts.

The RCE building cleared another 175 spaces, bringing the total to 450. Ironically, the new building will be placed in the overflow lot, where displaced students from the garage construction often have to park. Transportation and Parking Services Manager Nancy Fox is still predicting a workable situation in the short term. “We should still have 125 spaces available [during peak hours],” she said. It should be remembered, however, that 125 open spaces over our large campus still makes parking a daunting task for students and faculty. But this semester?s parking crunch is only a preview.

The real disaster will occur next fall. An anticipated record number of students will likely have to park in lots crippled with construction of the monstrous Modoc Hall near the RCE building. The 79,000 square foot building is slated to break ground next summer, and its construction will most likely coincide with the new garage and RCE building. University Public Affairs did not say how many spaces it will erase, but it is reasonable to believe that Modoc Hall will have a titanic impact on parking. It is over twice the size of the RCE building. University efforts to counter the problem are simply inadequate.

Fox mentioned the possibility of paving over existing areas on campus to create new lots and leasing out off-campus lots that students could be shuttled from. The only iron clad plan, however, is to “encourage” students to carpool or use alternative transportation to get to campus. Otherwise there will be no real relief until the completion of a proposed third parking structure. That would require a near doubling of parking fees.

It is clear that students are ultimately paying the price for reckless University expansion. The University is taking on a construction plan that is disrupting our education. However, there is an alternative within administration?s power.

The new parking structure will add 1,000 spaces when completed. We urge the University to postpone construction of Modoc Hall until then.