Parking situation to improve
By Laura Pelner
Campus
Editor
The University's new "C" parking permit system,
which has vastly improved the parking situation in University garages,
has actually created a new problem for those who park in remote surface
lots.
These lots, like the one north of Ross-Ade Stadium,
are filling to capacity each day and leaving many permit-holders without
a space.
"A lot of cars are diverted from the garages with
the new permit program," said Mike Jasper, parking facilities manager.
One possible reason for this is the new pricing
system. The garage specific "C" permits cost $72 this year whereas the
remote lot permits cost only $30.
Parking facilities is working on multiple strategies
to relieve the stress at the remote lots. Jasper said that within the
next three weeks he hopes to free up about 1,200 new surface spaces
through a few different methods.
The lot on Pierce Street, which is east of the
Wood Street garage, is being resigned for "C" permit spaces, said Jasper.
Also, additional spaces have been added at the
Recreational Sports Center and Terry Memorial House lots. Combined,
these additions should equal about 40 new spaces. About 150 more spots
will be added in the Ross-Ade lot too, when the contractor leaves the
area, said Jasper.
Another way Parking Facilities is working to lessen
the surface permit strain is by granting many students on the "C" garage
permit waiting lists a garage permit. Jasper said this would help the
situation at the surface lots significantly.
"We've initially contacted about 250 people (for
garage permits)," he said.
However, Jasper said his department is having a
hard time contacting some waiting students because their current phone
numbers are not updated in the Registrar system.
In about two months "C" surface lot permit holders
will have another parking option — a new lot south of the Purdue
Village administration building.
Diane Windler, the lot's project manager, said
the lot should be completed in November. She said the project includes
relaying gravel and wheel stops, organizing parking patterns and aisles,
reconfiguring the light poles and improving the entrance into the lot.
This lot will be a park-and-ride lot, similar to
the one at the stadium. Windler said a bus would stop near the lot to
transport students to campus.
This year no students will be allowed to purchase
Grant Street garage permits, as some have traditionally done in early
September. Usually some permits are available to students; however,
Jasper said a lot of teacher's assistants purchased them this year so
none will be sold to undergraduates.
For more information and updates from Parking Facilities
visit www.purdue.edu/parking.
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