Parking Squeeze

With 8,351 students enrolled this fall, parking has become a premium with only 2,062 spaces.
"I can never find a good space in the parking lot and if I do it’s going to be all the way in the back," said student Chris Carter. "This is so frustrating because then I'm usually late to my classes."

Some have taken the illegal approach by parking in the grass or in spaces that are designated for other needs. Cars parked illegally will be ticketed, with a fine of $5 each. If the ticket is not paid, it is sent to the City of Irving, becomes a citation, and is raised in price.

However, there is relief in sight in the form of a major construction plan projected to start later this month.
The proposed construction includes renovation to the existing parking, a new 400-space lot on the south side next to the T building, and added parking spaces in the north side next to the A building. All in all, the new proposal should add an additional 750 spaces.

How much will all this construction cost? Facilities Director John Watson said, "With all the new construction comes a great cost. The south lot will cost approximately $800,000, and the north lot with all the added handicapped spaces will cost approximately $1.1 million."

However, for all the students who want the premium spots now, a dilemma has also hit their already complicated lives. The addition of the senior parking has made the premium spaces next to the A building in short supply.

"I believe that if the seniors are able to go to school in the first place then they should be able to walk just as far as we do," said Carter. "Most of the seniors who are at the school don’t even take educational classes; they take things like swimming or jujitsu to get free exercise."

Most of the students that the News-Register spoke to did not know that the senior parking meant that it was for people 55 and above, but thought it was for fourth-year students.

With the new parking shining some light on this dreary subject, there will always be the issue of people's happiness with the new parking. Watson put it best when he said, "We can build it and they will come, but in all the years and all the spaces there will never be enough parking."