MATT HEISTAND/Arizona Daily Wildcat Parking spaces sit empty in a campus parking lot near McKale Center yesterday. Recent lot closures have left many people searching for spaces, but Parking and Transportation Services officials say spots are usually available in lots near University Medical Center and south of Frank Sancet Field.

Loss of parking to campus construction causing students to look elsewhere

After spending half an hour searching for a parking space Wednesday morning, journalism junior Michelle McHugh gave up looking.

"I couldn't go to class because it was so late that there was no point in going," she said.

McHugh's dilemma is something many students are facing this semester, officials say.

The closure of three Zone 1 parking lots Feb. 1 has made spaces in popular lots scarce, but others still sit unoccupied.

Zone 1 parking lots, 5079, 5137 and 5150, north of East Sixth Street, closed permanently for construction last week, and 405 parking spots were lost.

The most popular lots are full, but there are spaces available, said Mike Delahanty, operation manager for Parking and Transportation Services.

"What people will do is they will circle lots for 30 minutes when they could park somewhere else and take a five-minute walk," Delahanty said. "People want convenient parking, and I don't blame them. I do also. I try to put myself into their shoes."

While some lots are jammed packed, others are "underutilized," said Andie Graessle, customer relations manager for PTS.

Graessle pointed to lots 8138, 8110, 8111 and 8112 south of Frank Sancet Field, 640 N. Warren Ave., where PTS added a green CatTran stop this year to compensate for the closing lots.

PTS also recommends parking in lots 2001, 2123 and 2122 behind University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave. Both lots have CatTran stops, Graessle said.

While there are fewer than 5,000 Zone 1 spots on campus, PTS sold more than 7,000 permits, a 1.6 "oversell," although the numbers are misleading since they include permits that were returned, Graessle said.

"If we didn't oversell, then the lots would be empty," Graessle said. "The average stay on campus is three days a week for two-and-a-half to three hours. If we sold them one-to-one, you would wind up with empty lots, with a big waiting list," she said.

PTS is also working on adding more "Campus Commuter" lots between campus and the old Tucson Electric Power building, 220 W. Sixth St., that the UA recently acquired.

Permit holders could then park in commuter lots and ride the CatTran to campus. Permits for those lots are only $65, compared to $185 for Zone 1 permits and $400 for garage permits, Graessle said.

"I just think there is a lack of education about the shuttles," said Eli Wnek, a religious studies senior and UA football player. "Up until last year, I didn't even know there were campus shuttles."

A parking and CatTran map, schedule and walking distance map can be found on the PTS Web site at www.parking.arizona.edu or call 626-PARK.