Sacramento State is one step closer to the construction of a third parking structure after results from a university traffic analysis determined high traffic areas on campus.

University Transportation and Parking Services set up tubes at the three campus entrances earlier this month, tallying the number of cars entering and exiting campus in a 24 hour period.

A lofty 27,677 cars were recorded entering campus, while 25,908 exited in the same day.

UTAPS Manager Nancy Fox said the numbers indicate the rapid growth of Sac State.

She said that there may be more cars entering campus than there are exiting due to over 1000 students who live in the dorms.

The numbers from this year, compared to the same report conducted in 1998, show an increase of approximately 5000 cars on campus.

She said that the counts are done every couple of years to act as a gauge for University planning.

“It’s a tool,” Fox said. “The campus makes better decisions with more information.”

Fox said that the numbers will be given to an outside contractor to plan for Parking Structure III.

“The counts also revealed that the busiest entrance on campus is College Town Drive,” Fox said. “We want to place these buildings on an informed basis, so it is very important to know which entrance is used most.”

Fox said that the information will aid the university in making a definitive decision about the location of the planned structure.

Facilities Management Director Ron Richardson said that the numbers help, but there are other factors that play into the construction of Parking Structure III.

Richardson said that an outside consultant is currently conducting a feasibility study to determine whether the campus can afford the structure.

“Parking Structure III has been in our five year plan for three years, so we hope to get it,” Richardson said. “Our intent is to build.” Richardson said that the feasibility study will be completed within two months.

“We will have a better idea of when and where at that point,” Richardson said.

Sac State senior Alicia Ross said that she is anxious for the structure to be built.

“At least we are getting closer,” Ross said.

Parking Structure III is expected to hold 3,000 spaces exclusively for student use.