A recent slew of transportation changes, including a new parking deck, modified Wolfline routes and construction on Cates Ave., will change the way students get around campus this fall.
The West Deck, located near the intersection of Sullivan Drive and Varsity Drive – close to Wolf Village Way, opened Tuesday and offers 847 parking spaces.
Ryan Gibbons, parking planner and campus liaison for the West Deck project, said the goal was to eliminate wasted space inherent in parking lots, and instead add more spaces in a smaller square footage.
“Lots are traffic generators,” Gibbons said. “The new deck uses surface area more efficiently, which makes the surrounding area less congested.”
Gibbons said the approximate net increase in spaces (from the old surface parking lot) in the area is 355.
“These projects are done looking 10 to 15 years down the road as campus expands,” Gibbons said.
According to Gibbons, the area where the West Deck stands is one of few remaining locations on campus where a new parking infrastructure will fit.
N.C . State Transportation Public Spokesperson Christine Klein said the West deck is primarily for student commuters. According to her, permits – “W” commuter permits – are available for $246 for one academic year, and a student needs at least 30 credits to be eligible. Staff “C” permits are also valid.
University transportation officials have also shuffled around Wolfline bus routes – some routes have been created to sidestep construction projects, and others have been altered or canceled outright. The Wolfline started full service Tuesday.
New Wolfline routes include Route 10, or Southside Circulator, which will circulate through Centennial Campus and connect some of the surrounding neighborhoods and apartment complexes.
Route 10 will also have stops at the Lonnie Poole Golf Course, The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and Centennial Middle School.
Another Route, 3A , called Centennial Express, will no longer serve Oval Drive because the buses are too big for the street, according to Klein, and will make stops at the College of Textiles and Partners Way.
Other minor transportation-related changes on campus include increased daytime service frequency for Routes 2 and 11, more buses for Route 7 and no more Route 8 stops on Cates Ave because of Talley renovations.
These renovations may also cause some problems for those looking for parking on Cates Avenue, where utilities infrastructure is currently under construction in segments. Students can expect delays around East Cates Avenue, mainly between Morrill Drive and Jeter Drive, where work on chilled water lines will force one-lane traffic, according to Klein.
Starting Friday, around 30 parking spaces on Cates near Turlington Residence Hall will be unavailable – mostly affecting those with RE and C permits, Klein said.
“These are things that just fall through the cracks,” Klein said. “We expect the work to take two to three weeks. Once the area in front of Turlington is completed, utilities work will progress eastbound toward Morill.”
Gibbons said the actual effects on campus should be minimal, “unless a hurricane comes through or we find Jimmy Hoffa’s body.”
The cost of the West Deck project could not be determined.
