The Shorthorn - Multiple first-day parking problems arise for students

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Multiple first-day parking problems arise for students

Written by Joan Khalaf, The Shorthorn senior staff

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 09:19 PM

Officer Gerald Potter directs traffic at the UTA Bookstore on Tuesday evening. Campus Police were present from open to close at the UTA Bookstore the first week of the spring semester to relieve some of the congestion. (The Shorthorn: Aisha Butt)

Melody Zokaie’s first day back in spring classes started with her feet in a dirt pile. The history freshman couldn’t park her car on pavement, so she parked in the only spot she could find — grass.

“Parking was still bad last semester,” she said. “But it’s never ever been this bad.”

Zokaie said her brother, a UTA alumnus, didn’t believe her until he came back to visit.

“He said that can’t be possible,” she said. “Then he got three tickets in one day.”

Most students at the Parking Office on Tuesday were in line to pick up parking permits because they prepaid online and chose to pick them up, or waited until now to pay and pick up at the same time, Parking Office manager Mary Mabry said.

History senior and transfer student Robyn Lyon’s first day at UTA wasn’t easy either. She stood in line Tuesday at the Parking Office after having trouble using the kiosk, which allows students to purchase parking passes. Mabry said the kiosk was fixed Tuesday morning. She said lines were long Tuesday at the office because of being short staffed, but expects today to go smoother.

“Another way to make the process faster is by ordering parking permits online and just picking it up,” she said. “It takes two minutes to swipe the UTA ID, receive their permit and be on their way.”

Those who charged a parking permit to their account by midnight on Tuesday and chose to have it mailed to them will get it soon. No permit requests after Tuesday are mailed.

Mabry said students have another parking option besides using regular spots. Students may pay $33 for a remote permit that gives students access to Lot 26 — located near Maverick Stadium on W. Mitchell Street, and take the UTA Shuttle Service.

Reduced-rate remote permits:

Students: $33
Faculty and staff: $42

For a shuttle schedule, go to www.uta.edu/shuttle

The lot has nearly 700 spots. Faculty and staff who go to buildings east of Davis Drive may purchase the permit for $42. The shuttle service runs approximately every 15 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Interdisciplinary studies junior Gillian Talley said she expected to wait in lines, especially on the first day back.

“I’m sure everyone else in this line procrastinated like I did,” she said.
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