Students and university officials are working to alleviate commuter parking concerns with construction of a new parking garage in the Prices Fork Lot.
The new $26 million garage, set for completion in the fall of 2010, is projected to hold between 1,200-1,300 new parking spots. However, construction for the new garage has stripped 402 spots from the lot.
Despite the loss of the spots, members of the university administration are convinced there is plenty of space.
"There's not a lack of parking," said Richard McCoy, manager for Parking Services. "There's a lack of convenient parking."
McCoy said more parking for commuting students was available at the Smithfield Lot. The lot is roughly 0.8 miles walking distance from the center of the Drillfield.
"There's open parking down there in abundance," McCoy said. "They could park down there and go about their day."
With a shortage of convenient parking, students are being pressed to explore alternative forms of transportation to campus, including taking the bus or biking to campus.
"It's a simple supply and demand problem," said Brandon Carroll, SGA president. "If we can decrease some of that demand, then I think we can help ease the situation."
Bus usage increased 17.7 percent in the first week of classes of fall 2009 compared to the same period of time in fall 2008, a difference of 17,950 rides. "That's quite a few people," said Ken Tucker, marketing director for Blacksburg Transit.
The bus line has instituted several changes to alleviate bus congestion, including additional trippers to heavy traffic areas that drop students off on Perry Street.
One proposed plan from the SGA would update studentsabout the location of buses and other updates through Twitter.
"It would be an easy way for students to be updated," said Brianna Farr, director of the transportation committee of the SGA.
Debby Freed, alternative transportation manager for Transportation and Campus Services, suggested students riding the bus should plan ahead.
"Catch the bus before the bus you must ride," Freed said. "You might have to go out earlier, but it's better than being late."
Tucker said his office has been quick in giving feedback to dissatisfied riders.
"We answer every e-mail, every phone call we receive," Tucker said.
Tucker was sure the changes would make a difference for students who commute by bus to campus. "I feel confident that we've made changes that are making a trip from off campus to on campus less frustrating for riders," Tucker said.
Students are also using their bikes more frequently to get to classes, Freed said.
For the first time, a survey will be done to determine how many students ride bicycles to campus. The survey, to be conducted in the last week of September, will gauge demand and determine areas where more bike racks would be needed.
Farr suggested a change in mindset of driving would be necessary to relieve some of the parking woes.
"Our system of everyone driving separately isn't working," Farr said. "There aren't enough spaces to accommodate everybody who wants to drive."
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"McCoy said more parking for commuting students was available at the Smithfield Lot. The lot is roughly 0.8 miles walking distance from the center of the Drillfield." For a person who has one class on a given day and wants to drive to campus, who would want to park a mile from their class
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Not only did the garage take away parking spots, but it also took away a huge chunk of the premium tailgating spots in the Prices Fork lot. It's also going to be an eyesore for anyone driving by the lot. I feel like they should have picked a better place for the lot, and should have actually started doing major construction when there weren't so many students on campus....like maybe the summer? Just a thought.
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They thought of other spots like Squires parking lot but this was the best spot for construction. Even if they did start doing construction during the summer, they would be constructing during this entire school year.
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The garage will not be an eyesore. Take a look at the drawings, and you'll see that it will be an architecturally beautiful and technically functional facility that this campus is in great need of. The Prices Fork parking lot is below grade; the new garage will complement the buildings it borders. For the "parking sucks" post below, why have you not considered the bus? If you only have one class, why would you want to drive to it? I can understand if you live outside the limits of Blacksburg Transit territory, but even living at the farthest reaches of the Hethwood bus route, I had no difficulty riding the bus regardless of the number of classes. If every one-person-per-car driver stopped and used the bus, there would be plenty of parking for those who truly need to drive. The Northern Virginia "my car is my independence" attitude doesn't work out here in the hills.
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@Ed - where are the drawings for the new parking garage? Are they online? I'd really like to see what they're putting up. THX
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@Ed - To say that the "my car is my independence" attitude doesn't ring true in the hills of SWVA is laughable. In the hills you have further to travel to destinations. That being said, I don't find Blacksburg to be "the hills", for that just take a quick trip over in the backwoods of WV to see what isolation looks like. However, I do agree with your core point that more people should utilize the bus. It is on a schedule and has many convenient stops around Blacksburg. It will take a little more time, but if you factor in the time you save by not having to find a 'convenient' parking space, it takes about the same time.
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