By Kiley Krzyzek
Available parking for commuters, staff and students, has proven insufficient and a neusance throughout a normal school day at Central Connecticut State University. Though many attest to this inconvenience, reports show that the campus provides ample parking at all times of the day.
A 2013 Transportation Plan Study conducted by the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency claimed there are allegedly “1,000 free parking spaces at any given hour on campus”. The May 2012 reported that 86% of respondents drive to campus. With the CCSU student body consisting mostly commuter students, complaints about available parking are a commonality.
The students reported that either there was not enough parking or that available spots failed to suit their needs; they wanted parking closer to their classes.
The Official Parking Regulations, which were last revised on the website in 2003, states that everyone parking on campus, even visitors, need to have a parking pass- temporary or not.
“All vehicles operating or parked on campus at any time must display valid CCSU registration decals or hang tags.” It says that all visitors must obtain temporary parking passes from the CCSU Police or designated department with granted permission, and park in designated “visitor parking spaces, if spaces are available.”
Other factors impede parking unexpectedly like bans due to weather, sporting events, or an influx of visitors on campus that day. These things make it hard for students and staff to find parking.
“There’s never enough spots because of sports games on the weekend and Copernicus is a maze and a traffic jam,” said sophomore Ben Bruzik.
Of the 1,000 spots claimed to be available per week, 552 of these open spaces are in Copernicus garage. Popular parking locations, like James Lot, had zero empty spots. Other ideal spaces like the Student Center lot had just nine open spaces on average.
“Many respondents complained about the parking situation on campus,” the report states. “Many of the students’ comments were the same as the first survey on how there is no parking and it is hard to find a parking spot. This causes them to be late to class.”
Faculty were concerned with the lack of reserved parking. However, Vance Garage is dedicated to faculty during peak hours of the day (until 5 pm). The amount of free parking spaces in Vance garage were not reported in the study. They also can park by Willard which allots for six percent of the total available spaces on campus.
Parking in Vance garage, the Willard lot, and the Manaford lot are reserved until 5pm, allowing student access afterwards.
Susan Sweeney, the Associate Director of Student Activities and Leadership Development says she is an outspoken advocate for students on the matter.
“I would not agree that faculty do not have enough parking. I’ve never seen the south garage full, it’s in the center of campus,” she said referring to Welte garage.
The report claims that Copernicus garage and Kaiser lot are both underutilized and suggests that if commuters parked there instead of circling around Welte and the Student Center garages and lots, they would then make it to class on time because it’s a small campus.
“I don’t really have a problem with parking because I am a resident,” says Jill Moffett who usually parks in Copernicus. “The only time it is truly busy is about 3-5 pm and like 9-11 am,” she says.
Resident students are also supposed to park in the Copernicus, Student Center or Welte Garage, though some students have qualms about certain garages on campus.
Though Copernicus may have a lot of free spots, students say that it isn’t the most inviting place to park. The lack of interior lighting makes some students feel unsafe.
“Copernicus garage is awful. I don’t feel safe parking my car there because people don’t know how to drive in the garage,” explains Megan Hislop, a sophomore.
Kaiser lot averaged 150 free spaces available weekly, not accounting its limited availability to students. The lot closes during inclement weather and maintenance needs to plow, along with other surface lots. There are also parking bans when there are certain sporting events going on.
Outside events that come to campus also makes it more difficult for tuition-paying students to find a space to park. Sweeney commented on the volume of classes and conferences happening at once and consuming parking.
“Faculty have favored times they like to teach, but is anyone monitoring that?” she advises, “Turn down conferences or tell the students so they can plan for parking. You can’t even plan. I think students don’t mind walking, it’s just different everyday.”
If you click on ‘Visiting CCSU, Directions to Campus” there’s a campus map where you can see all the different parking spaces on campus without suggested parking for visitors or students.
Though the study’s results remain true to their numbers, students and faculty are adamant that, in terms of convenience and efficiency, the campus still needs improving.
