A running joke is “only two things last forever, death and taxes.” KSU students know a different mantra, “Death, Taxes, and Parking.” I have been a student since Fall 2007, and I have seen parking in many different instances. Parking has always been a problem and it will always be a problem. It’s the problem of a mainly commuter school. The Department of Parking Services has introduced a new plan to reduce deck-hopping and hours of circling Lot C by The Commons.
The new plan involves dividing existing parking areas into nine different zones. Three of these zones are based around the three commuter decks and their surrounding lots. Four of them involve the KSU shuttle, including the new apartment shuttle that services U Club, The Lofts, Enclave, Greenhouse and Charlestown apartments. The last two zones are two residential parking zones.
When this plan was announced, I heard many commuter students gripe about it. They believed that the zones would fill up and they would be stranded, trapped in their gridlocked area. Others are upset that they cannot park in other zones when their classes are closer to them.
These complaints are understandable when you look at the new system from the old system’s point of view. With the old system, parking was only limited by three factors – commuters, residents and shuttles. This led to West Deck, arguably the most popular deck, being filled before the second class period every day.
DPS has heard these complaints and taken them into consideration. Beth Tindel, the director of DPS, said the department “conducted a transit feasibility study last year, through a federal grant [they] received.” They took the findings of the study, coupled with parking surveys from students, faculty and staff, and vetted them through committees as well as President Papp’s Cabinet.
Tindel said that the “goal of area parking is to disallow traffic churn throughout campus and confine a pre-determined number of students to one area.” By confining students to an area, they are able to ensure open spaces. They are not simply selling off each parking spot; they are monitoring the class schedules of students. By monitoring, they know that there will be spots available in any 15-minute increment.
So if everything goes according to plan, students will be able to find a spot to park. If you are trying to come to school during a peak traffic time, you may have to circle, as we all do, but a spot should be available within 15 minutes. DPS also has a back-up plan. If your zone is full and you cannot find a spot, you are able to park in visitor parking at the Student Center or Central Deck for the day.
This plan should cut down on the constant circling of decks and the creepy following of students to their cars. The increased off-campus parking available due to the shuttle, B.O.B., will ease the number of apartment students clogging the decks. I personally take the shuttle from Town Center Parking and I find it to be an enjoyable and pleasant way to meet fellow students.
This zoned parking comes with at a cost, quite literally. The on-campus parking fee is $83 this semester, and off campus varies from $20 to $40. Town Center parking comes in the cheapest at $20.
As a note to incoming freshmen, the first few weeks of any semester are hectic. It seems that people forget how to park and must learn again, but give yourself extra time to get to class and find parking. Professors are usually understanding about tardiness on the first day, but don’t bet on it. If you want a safe bet to park, Central Deck is the largest, and the top levels are usually open. This is not for acrophobic students, though, as eight stories is pretty high up.
If you can’t find a spot, keep circling. Some students like to park in the middle of the road so they can prey on a good spot, but this leads to congestion and irritation in the lot. Don’t do this.
Parking may always be a “thing” at KSU. It is part of our identity, but I believe that this new system can help solve or relieve some major parking stress.
Having attended colleges in other statses in my past, the parking issues at KSU are not nearly as bad as students make it out to be. Because KSU has invested in parking towers, rather than flat lots, more parking is available closer to the actual buildings where classes are held. The key is to give yourself enough time when arriving to campus.
Having attended colleges in other states in my past, the parking issues are near as bad as students make it out to be. Becuase KSU has invested in parking towers and not just flat parking lots, more parking is actually available closer to the actual buildings where classes are held. The key to less stress over parking is to give yourself enough time when arriving on campus.