Christina Colucci
With new parking lots open and attendants to direct the flow of traffic, Pierce students can expect to find a parking spot with ease when they return for spring semester.
According to Larry Kraus, associate vice president of Administrative Services, the beginning of the semester is the busiest time for traffic and parking.
“It’s like a mad house here with all the traffic the first few weeks of school,” said Pierce student Tony Corti. “I’ll be surprised if this semester parking is any better.”
Kraus is sure that it will be.
With enrollment cresting at new heights, attendants have been brought on for the first time “to get students parked quickly, offer information as necessary and make sure no one gets stuck in a full lot,” he said.
“Once a lot is full, it will be closed and students will be directed to the next one that is open.”
Pierce College uses “free-flow” parking, which means spaces are not assigned.
Kraus recommends that students familiarize themselves with the location of their classes before the first day of school so they park in the appropriate lot.
He also suggests students arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of any class to allow for extra time.
Parking Lot 1, which was closed Oct. 1, 2008, is open this spring, reconfigured and enlarged, with an additional 65 spaces for students and 66 more for faculty and staff.
“The lot used to run from north to south; it now runs east to west,” said Pierce College President Robert Garber.
“It will now have two lanes going in and out, so cars that are trying to get through will not get trapped behind a car that is parking.”
Pierce sophomore Britnie Escalante is glad to see that the lot is open again.
“It was such a hassle when Lot 1 closed,” she said. “On the days I had class in the Village I had to park in Lot 7 and would always be late.”
“I think with Lot 1 open, parking will be a lot easier,” she said.
Lot 6 West near the Performing Arts Building will be closed during the spring semester for installation of upgraded solar panels.
“We plan to eventually put solar panels in the Stadium Parking Lot (4), Lot 7 and Lot 8,” said Garber. “Our goal is to try and store up excess electricity during the day so that we are able to light up our parking lots at night (the peak of electricity use).
Garber believes “if Pierce reduces the amount of lighting at night [by using solar panels] and tries other low voltage options, we will really see a difference in our electricity use and costs.”
For students who need to park near the Performing Arts Building, temporary Lot 6 East will be available.
“There is a plan under the new Measure J fund to improve this gravel lot and make it into a new permanent lot,” said David Tsao, Swinerton campus project manager.
Temporary Lot 9, the Equestrian Center Parking Lot just off El Rancho Drive near De Soto Avenue, will also be open for spring to provide an additional 157 spaces.
“We plan our construction so that once one lot is closed, another is open to make up for the spaces lost,” said Garber.
“Pierce has 4,000 or so parking spaces,” he added, assuring that finding one will not be a problem.