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New on-campus parking changes will limit parking options for students next year
TANNER HASSELL
@thassell1Z
@thassell17
Next year, University students may find parking on campus to be more limited. KU Parking will eliminate 217 on-campus parking spots for next year, Donna Hultine, director of KU Parking and Transit, said.
Assistant Director of KU Parking and Transit Danny Kaiser said a lot is still up in the air, as the parking system is about to undergo some major changes.
Hultine said there were 6,279 yellow parking spaces available on both main and West Campus. Of the over 6,000 spots, 3,321 are located on main campus. Hultine said many of these spots will not be available for the fall 2016 semester, due to construction occurring throughout campus.
Lot 90 will undergo changes due to construction.
"We will lose 217 spaces in lot 72 to construction," Hultine said. "The parking situation will get a little more crowded with the construction. Not only will we lose yellow lot spots, but residential park at Jawhawk Towers and at Stauffer Place will also be affected by the Central District construction. We've already lost most of the Stauffer Place parking to construction this year, and Towers parking is down to 317."
Hultine said lot 90 by the Ambler Recreation Center, which is one of the more
Missy Minear/KANSAN
popular parking options for off-campus students, will likely become even more crowded with the construction.
"The preference seems to be lot 90. We have reports of students just circling and circling trying to find a spot. I'm afraid that might get a little worse with the changes going on." Hultine said.
Freshman Murphy Leinbach from Mission Hills said the parking situation on campus has been pretty rough during his first year at the University.
“It's hard to get a spot even after the restrieted times,” Leinbach said. “Sometimes it feels like it's almost impossible to get a spot.”
Students have spent up to 30 minutes looking for parking in lot 90, according to the KU Parking website.
Hultine said the parking designation system will change drastically for next school year in an attempt to alleviate some of parking woes students are experiencing.
"Parking will be assigned by areas for next year," Hultine said. "For example, lot 90 will be designated as its own area. Lots around the Stadium and Allen Fieldhouse will also be separate areas."
Hultine said students will be able to purchase a pass for these different areas until the areas are sold out.
"We'll set a certain num
ber of permits for each area. Once a lot is sold out that option will not be available." Hultine said. "We're doing this to try and combat the issues students have had with driving around looking for spots. We hope this system will help spread out parking a little bit for off-campus students."
Hultine said parking passes for on-campus students will be issued through a lottery system, as it has been for the last couple of
years.
On the other hand, off-campus freshman will only be able to park in Park and Ride lots on west campus.
"This year and the year prior we had to do residential parking through a lottery because of construction," Hultine said. "Everybody will be presented with a parking option, even if it's not right next to their residential hall."
"It certainly doesn't make
we happy that we have to do that. We've just lost so much parking, and we'll only lose more." Hultine said.
For students set on getting a parking pass next year, Hultine recommends looking into it during the summer.
"Parking passes are available on July 1 every year," Hultine said. "The rates for next year aren't set in stone at the moment, but an email will go out to the community before passes are available."
Kaiser said students in search of the cheapest option should look into the Park and Ride lots on West Campus.
For incoming students, Hultine said not bringing a car would be the easiest option.
"We have an excellent bus system. If you can make it work for you that is really your best option at this point," Hultine said.
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