Hundreds of people signed the white Ford Escord ASOSU put in the quad last Friday. The vehicle is now parked in the student lot behind Snell Hall, where ASOSU officials said it will stay for a while.
Kacy Kizer
Barometer Photo Editor
Last Friday, a white Ford Escort was parked in the middle of the MU Quad as part of the Beaver Dam Community Jam put on by the Associated Students of OSU.
Over the course of the day, hundreds of students were given the opportunity to express their opinions on a $40 parking pass fee increase implemented this term, by writing their thoughts on the car. By the day's end, the Escort had a new paint job, courtesy of the OSU student body.
Most of the comments, written with permanent markers, criticized Parking Services. Some comments read: "Ride your bike, it's free!" "I'd rather walk" and "Boo, Parking!"
Students who drive to campus have had to cope with increased tuition and student fees as well as the parking rate increase. The parking permit increase applies to OSU faculty as well, who now have to pay $165 -- an increase of $55 -- for a year -long pass.
Many OSU students and faculty have one question: Why have parking fees increased?
Officials at Parking Services wish to answer this and many other questions in order to inform and calm increasingly frustrated on-campus parkers.
Linda Sarnoff, University Planning Manager, explained that the increase in student parking permit rates from $80 to $120 is to finance a new 1,000-stall parking structure currently under development.
Sarnoff said the proposed structure would be built at the site of the Finley Hall parking lot and will be used to accommodate OSU football fans during home games. During regular school hours, however, it will be open for students with permits.
She explained that since city building codes require additional parking due to the future expansion of Reser Stadium, the plan was required.
Sarnoff says that although plans have not yet been completed for the actual structure, parking structures like the one proposed usually cost between $10 and $15 million. Of this, OSU Athletics has pledged to contribute $4 million. The rest will be paid for by the parking permit price increase.
Sarnoff, along with Peggie Bursell, Parking Services Manager, estimate that due to unpredictable interest rates, it will take 15 to 20 years to pay off the new parking structure bond.
Originally there were six locations proposed for the new structure, but the Finley location was chosen because it was the most feasible, Sarnoff explained.
The original proposition was to put the structure closer to the main campus, but traffic studies concluded that Monroe Avenue would not be able to handle the added traffic, whereas the Finley lot would. A small factor in this would be an access drive off of Western Boulevard.
Sarnoff said that students who were asked about the proposed plan also commented that the chosen location of the structure would provide a relatively straight shot to the Memorial Union.
Bursell and Sarnoff say the debate of where to place new parking has been a problem for years.
"When the campus layout was made by the Olmsted Brothers in 1909, they couldn't foresee cars to be a large problem. Most students arrived by other means, like by train," Sarnoff said.
"Colleges that thought of parking issues 20 years ago have less problems, now OSU is having to play catch up."
The two explained that in the past, additional parking lots were added as problems arose. There was no long-term plan in place to solve parking problems. Thus there are a number of smaller lots scattered across campus with no overall plan.
OSU hopes to remedy much of its parking problems with the addition of the parking structure. Bursell and Sarnoff say that the structure will concentrate parking, making it easier to find free stalls instead of having to drive across campus to search in other lots.
"We've gotten behind the curve now. We want to be set ahead of the curve, and stay ahead of the curve," Sarnoff said.
"We don't have area for tons of pavement close to campus."
In other words, campus planners intend to build up, since building out is no longer an issue.
Sarnoff wants to remind students that student fees help to pay for free public transportation for all OSU students. She also said that the on-campus shuttle service and Saferide programs are also at work to alleviate traffic problems.
"We're trying to provide other means of transportation," she said.
Students have also had questions as to why parking meters have been added to stalls in front of Dixon Recreation Center and at other locations on campus. Bursell explained that meters are installed not to increase profits but to increase turnover. She said that Dixon specifically requested that the meters be added because there were problems with students parking in front of Dixon and leaving their cars there all day.
Bursell advises students to be aware of parking meters and to keep track of time.
"If you don't want to watch time then don't park at a metered stall," Bursell said.
Both Bursell and Sarnoff admit that Parking Services has not received nearly the amount of complaints they had expected.
"If you have special needs, then come and see us. We can't help unless we know about the problem," Bursell said.
Sarnoff acknowledges that student fees are mounting and seeks to remind students that faculty also have to deal with increased parking rates. Both Bursell and Sarnoff feel that a parking structure would significantly improve the parking situation at OSU.
"People have ideas on how to manage parking, we really are open minded and willing to answer your questions," Sarnoff said.
Peter Chee is an international affairs reporter for The Daily Barometer. He can be reached at 737-6376 or at baro.news@studentmedia.orst .edu.