|
Officials
say parking improvements are close
University
officials are working to create more parking for students
without building a garage.
By
Julia Mae Jorgensen
Staff Reporter
The university plans to spend $2.1 million for parking
improvements that include new parking lots, new lights
and fences and a new shuttle service, administration
officials said.
The administration has not determined the exact location
of improvements, said Don Mills, vice chancellor for
student affairs. The money is part of the $248 million
budget the Board of Trustees approved Jan. 30. The next
budget year begins June 1.
“Bottom line: we are determined to show marked
progress in the area of parking, more parking, by the
time school begins again for fall of 2004,” Chancellor
Victor Boschini said. “It is also my goal at this
time to do so without utilizing a parking garage, primarily
because of the monetary impact such a building would
create.”
A portion of the money has been allocated to build security
fences around campus parking lots.
“Fences make it easier to control who enters a
lot,” Mills said, “and also makes the possibilities
of escape for thieves much less.”
The
$2.1 million figure was decided upon by the administration
and a request was then made to the Board, Boschini said.
“We came up with that number based on our desire
to a) improve existing parking facilities and b) add
even more,” Boschini said.
Mills said the administration is considering new lots
on Lubbock Street; near the School of Business; the
corner of Stadium Drive and Berry Street; and north
of the football stadium.
For the long term, Mills said he expects parking improvements
to develop on the edge of campus away from the academic
core.
“Parking will not become more convenient to all
buildings on the campus,” Mills said. “Not
all will like that approach, but it does preserve the
center of the campus for our primary mission.”
|
