In a collaboration between Campus Police and Transportation a spring break parking package will be offered again this year. Students who park in perimeter and resident lots can move their vehicles to the West Lot, which is off Sullivan Drive, during spring break.
This is the third year this plan has been implemented according to David Gregory, parking services manager for Transportation.
“Not many people know about this so we’re trying to make it better publicized and spread awareness on campus,” he said. “We realize students leave cars on campus for extended periods of time so we wanted to make sure there was a way to keep a lot of cars in the same area to keep an eye on them.”
All University permit holders, regardless of the type, may park in the West Lot without any special arrangements, he said.
For students who utilize this service, Gregory said, Wolfline shuttle bus service will be provided from the Centennial Campus Storage Lots to campus residence halls on Sunday, March 21. He said the service will begin at 5 p.m. and run continuously until 9 p.m. with service approximately every half-hour.
“We have coordinated the Wolfline bus schedules to accommodate students returning their cars to their respective Lots on Sunday,” Gregory said.
The idea behind the temporary storage comes from the knowledge that Campus Police is located near West Lot and many police officers park their own cars in that lot. Therefore increased attention will be paid to that area, according to Gregory.
“If we congregate all the cars near where the police are available at all times, there is less likely of a chance they will be attacked since there is a constant presence there,” he said.
John Garrison, a freshman in computer science, said he would take advantage of this benefit if he left his car on campus during spring break.
“Parking in West Lot would make me feel more secure because it’s not all the way out on Centennial,” Garrison said. “I don’t know how often Campus Police monitors Centennial, and moving it to main campus would make me feel more comfortable about leaving my car on campus over break.”
Gregory said moving the cars together allows for increased security.
“If West Lot, the lot closest to Campus Police, sat empty over break, that would be a waste of space that could be utilized for a secure area for students and faulty vehicles,” he said.
Gregory said all resident permits and non-resident permits can park in the West Lot. The important thing, he said, is to fill up the lot in order to utilize space.
“Coliseum and Dan Allen deck permits can park in West Lot as well without any special arrangements needing to be made,” Gregory said. “We advertise this for the RS Lot because a lot of people have this permit. We just tried to think this out and make sure our areas are covered.”
Calico Holiday, a freshman in nutrition science, said she would also use this service.
“If I were keeping my car on campus during spring break I would definitely use the West Lot. I would want to know my car was safe,” she said.
