September 12, 2003 :: No. 39

University to Sell More Parking Permits

Students seeking parking permits at Cal State Fullerton are getting another opportunity to buy them as the campus makes additional permits available next week.

In addition, evening-only parking permits are now good any time during the day or evening hours on campus, where fall semester classes began Aug. 25.

“Now that we are past the crush of the semester’s first weeks, we are seeing some space availability in our parking lots,” said Bill Barrett, associate vice president for administration. “This means we can sell more permits, with the expectation that these students will find a parking space.”

Work began this summer on a five-level parking structure on the university’s southwest side. When completed in fall 2005, the structure — the first of two planned to accommodate the university’s growing population — will provide spaces for 2,500 cars.

To provide as many parking options as possible, the university is leasing off-campus parking at the Spectrum Club in Fullerton and, through Oct. 23, at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. Shuttle buses, free to riders, operate from both locations Mondays through Fridays. Additional spaces for faculty and staff members are set aside on the top level of the parking structure at the Fullerton Marriott located on campus.

“We continue to look for additional off-campus locations where members of the campus community may park,” noted Joe Ferrar, director of parking and transportation. “We also are evaluating the popularity of such locations.”

In addition, the university restriped a number of lots to allow for more parking, expanded a no-tip valet program that allows for stacked parking in select lots, introduced evening-only parking passes and initially limited the number of student parking passes sold.

“At the beginning of the school year we felt that it would be irresponsible to sell more than 19,000 student parking passes,” said Barrett. “Now with additional space availability, we’re in a position to provide additional permits to those students who wish to purchase them.”

The university also encourages alternatives to individuals driving their vehicles to campus. Beginning Monday, faculty, staff and students can ride any OCTA bus free to campus or any other destination, thanks to a partnership between OCTA and Cal State Fullerton. Campus members with a valid campus ID card can simply swipe their TitanCard through the bus farebox as they board. The U-Pass program is valid on all OCTA routes at any time and is funded by parking ticket revenues.

Cal State Fullerton also operates an incentive program that encourages carpooling for faculty, staff and students.