The Shorthorn - Shuttle service serves as remedy to some parking woes

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Shuttle service serves as remedy to some parking woes

Written by Sharayah Sherrod, The Shorthorn staff

Thursday, 04 February 2010 10:15 PM

Mechanical engineering freshman Sergio Tizol walks back to his car Tuesday in Lot 50. Tizol said he doesn�t like parking so far away sometimes and having to walk at least 15 minutes to his first class. (The Shorthorn: Rasy Ran)

While throngs of drivers played vehicular musical chairs in parking lots Thursday, Erika Ware relaxed under the cover of the shuttle stop, waiting for her peaceful ride to school.

“I’d rather just take the trolley than waste my gas or try to fight for a parking spot,” the kinesiology junior said as she waited for the shuttle by Maverick Stadium where she parked her car.

She said taking the shuttle is quick, easy and a good option for students, especially with the special events center construction drawing closer.

The UTA Shuttle Service operates at no charge to students, faculty, staff and visitors Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“I’m surprised more people don’t ride the trolley,” Ware said. “It’s pretty quick because it’s every 15 minutes. It may be a little early, but it’s never late and if it’s early, they wait.”

She said the shuttle drops her off right at her building, closer than the closest student parking spots near campus.

In addition to the hiking the shuttle can save, students who trade their parking permits for remote permits will save almost $50.

Parking office staff said a student who trades in a permit will be refunded the $82.50 for the original and charged $33 for a remote one, saving $49.50. There is no deadline for exchanging the permits, staff said.

Construction plans call for the special events center to be built in lots where Arlington Hall residents and other students currently park on the east side of campus. When the building begins, drivers will have to find somewhere else to park.

Parking Alternatives

Parking is available at the Maverick Stadium (Lot 26) for those riding the shuttle.

A PDF file with the shuttle route map and schedule can be found at the Office of Finance and Administration Web site.

The Mav Mover Express Service makes Saturday runs to Wal-Mart and the Parks Mall et for a $1 one-way fare.

“The parking spots are already far enough,” Ware said. “Without that lot, it’s going to be even harder.”

Kandi Whitehead, exercise science senior and shuttle-rider, said she too prefers riding the shuttle. Still, she said she recognizes the problem eliminating a parking lot near campus might cause.

“The parking for any university is always a problem,” Whitehead said. “You can’t eliminate parking when it’s already a problem.”

University spokeswoman Kristin Sullivan said the university is actively preparing for the changes the special events center construction will bring.

“There are plans in the works for parking, shuttles, everything — how we’re going to respond to construction,” she said.

Arlington Hall resident Emerson Carrera said he is making plans of his own.

“It would be kind of bad to have to park somewhere else,” he said. “That’s the closest lot to Arlington Hall. I probably just won’t bring a car next semester.”

Arlington Hall resident Phillip Tolliver said though he is disappointed to have to look for parking elsewhere, he is hopeful the university will provide good options for drivers.

“Its kind of sad that we’ll have to find somewhere else to park, but hopefully they’ll find somewhere to park that’s still close to the building,” he said. “I think we’ll all be able to find a spot.”

Correction

An earlier version of this story appeared in print on February 5, 2010 and on www.theshorthorn.com with incorrect information. This version has been amended with the correct information.

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Comments (4)

1 Saturday shuttle only to Walmart and Mal
Written by Maria, on 02-05-2010 00:01
The Mav Mover Express Service that runs on Saturday hasn't gone to the Saigon Market for a long time, since the market moved. Also, the schedule has changed last Fall so the shuttle only goes to Walmart in the morning and to the Mall only in the afternoon. Besides, the fare is $1 each way (according to the Saturday Shuttle brochure.

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2 Written by Todd Lucas, on 02-05-2010 10:46
I would like to point out that in virtually every circumstance, UTA rep Kristin Sullivan has made NO effort to mention the fact that they have not addressed specifics on what students should do in the face of loosing nearly 1400 parking spaces on the east side of the campus. Merely that "Students will need to make other parking arrangements"

Kandi Whitehead made the best staement about this I have seen from a student thus far: �You can�t eliminate parking when it�s already a problem.�

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3 How stupid !!
Written by JD, on 02-05-2010 17:49
There is already no parking spots and now eliminating more parking space?? I do not know what to call that other than stupid. Sad thing is no one is going to do anything about it till all students get together and do something about it.

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4 Written by Chris Hudson, on 02-05-2010 21:34
Are they going to build the event center's accompanying parking structure at the same time? Why is that not being built first in an effort to minimize the parking problems?

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