Many students and faculty members will be forced to deal with reorganization of parking lots as construction begins on a new parking garage in the commuter lot.
Contractors officially began the construction process Wednesday by putting up a fence to mark the construction area, and restrict the parking area in Perry Street and Prices Fork lots.
Bo Frazier, assistant manager of parking services, said other parking lots would be used to compensate for the loss of parking.
Spaces in Perry Street Lot three formerly used for commuters are now designated faculty/staff to compensate for "several hundred spaces" lost in Perry Street Lot two, according to a university press release.
Commuter students displaced by the construction are being directed to the Duck Pond overflow lot.
More resident students will be encouraged to park in the lower Chicken Hill lot, which Frazier said would open up the Duck Pond lot for commuters.
Commuter spots have replaced several rows of the Duck Pond lot. The gates will be open for easy access.
Frazier said studies were conducted to plan the most feasible means of compensating for the loss of parking.
There are less faculty/staff spots available in the area, but Frazier said many of the spots were unused at any given time in the previous arrangement.
He said the parking situation near Prices Fork needed to be addressed now.
"It's already very tough to find parking spots over there now," Frazier said.
He said plans are already in place for a new engineering building that would occupy a space currently filled by parking spaces.
The parking garage being built over the next 16 months will contain 1,200-1,300 spaces.
Although construction dates are not set, another parking garage is also planned for the Collegiate Square area, near Turner Street.
The price of a year long commuter pass will be $136 for students, up from $114 last year.
Faculty commuter passes will cost $179 this academic year.
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if we buy a parking pass and can't find a parking spot, do we get a refund for that day?
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...And once the new Prices Fork Garage is built all of those who complain about parking will find themselves with plenty of space, a safe, new, weather-proof facility that will make their commutes easier...so don't start your moaning and complaining, OK?!
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For all of us Seniors that wont be here next year, this is great news! Less parking available this year, plenty of parking available next year!
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This is the perfect time to try mass transit, ride a bike, walk, drop five pounds and tone up that arse!
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