Daily Sundial
Campus parking for students has improved, however problems remain, said university officials.
Recent building additions increased the campus parking space total to about 6,600, but there are still more cars than spaces, said Christina Villalobos, CSUN public safety spokesperson.
“The additional spaces gained from the new B-3 parking structure have made an enormous impact on parking availability, adding 2,071 additional spaces,” said Villalobos.
Villalobos said 2004 figures from the department’s annual report show that 35,546 parking passes were sold during that year.
Villalobos said students should use the trams that carry students to and from outer parking lots instead of using the overcrowded lots.
Spaced 15 minutes apart and with four specific stops, they service rarely-filled lots F-10 and G-10, located on the north side of Lassen Street between Lindley and Zelzah avenue, with the tram service reporting 95,000 students transported in the start-up month of September 2004 said Villalobos.
Sgt. Jim Stotler, supervisor of parking and traffic safety on campus, said the first two weeks of the semester, usually between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., are the busiest.
“The most important thing is to be sure and come early and be patient,” Stotler said.
“The new B-3 parking structure on Etiwanda did very well (last semester), but it does take time because of limited access,” Stotler said adding that students voiced concerns about the time it takes to exit because of cars backing out and holding up the flow of traffic.
With some of the busiest parking areas on the west side of the campus, Stotler said students should check less congested lots G-3 and G-4, located off Zelzah Avenue on the east side of the campus for parking.
Tom Brown, director of Physical Plant Management, said he cautions drivers to slow down in the parking lots and garages, both accident-prone areas.
“Drivers need to recognize this is an arena where young people are worried about everything but their personal safety,” said Brown. “Sometimes they are so intent they don’t know when they’re stepping in front of a vehicle.”
Brown also said students should, “Get here early; the best parking is before 7 a.m.”
Allan Flores, business management major, was concerned about the parking situation on campus.
“The night of the fire last semester showed how horrible the evacuation procedures were. The cars were bumper to bumper and couldn’t move,” Flores said.
Flores said what he believes is another problem with CSUN parking.
“There are more faculty spots then there is faculty. There are lots of empty spaces, but we (students) can’t use them,” said Flores.
Nancy McDonald can be reached at city@csun.edu