MONTINE RUMMEL/Arizona Daily Wildcat Students are finding themselves spending a significant portion of the day searching for on-campus parking. Despite relatively high prices for Zone I permits, students see little benefit from the pass.

Construction causes Zone 1 lot shortage

For those who circle the parking lots, grumbling about their Zone 1 pass, help is on the way.

Although a number of Zone 1 lots have been lost to construction, new lots and garages are in the works to help students who can't find parking spots.

Plans for the next garage are being drawn up now, but construction will not begin until May.

The completion of all the garages is not expected until August 2005.

Additional Zone 1 lots on the north side of campus are being built right now and should be done by late September or early October, Patrick Kass, director of parking and transportation, said.

"This should make up for the lots lost to construction," he added.

But until then many students will find themselves circling the 58 areas designated for Zone 1 permit holders.

"I got to school today at 7:30 a.m. and I still couldn't find a parking space," said creative writing senior Sara Hudson. "It just makes me sick. This is the worst it has ever been."

Some students blame their parking woes on the lack of organization within the parking services, rather than the construction.

"This really sucks," said Sarah Tripp, a junior in community health. "They give out way more parking permits than there are spaces and it's obvious."

Kass said that the lost parking spaces were accounted for and only a limited number of passes were given out.

"If we know we are losing spaces, we will reduce the number of permits we give out," Kass said.

Last year 4,900 Zone 1 permits were issued. Though figures are not in until early September, Kass predicts that 4,700 Zone 1 permits will have been issued when all is said and done.

There are 4,000 people on the permit waiting list, and the Zone 1 waiting list is filled, with 2,000 people on it.

"I waited a year to get a permit, and that was before construction began," said communication senior Angel Powell.

Once the garages are built, however, the new spaces will not add extra Zone 1 parking spots, they will just replace them, Kass said.

"The inventory will still be the same," he said.

But not all students want to dig into their wallets to pull out the extra $215 they would have to pay for a garage spot.

Zone 1 permits cost $235 a year, while parking garage permits cost $450 a year.

The additional money will be used to maintain the garages and pay out its debt, Kass said.

It cost $10,000 to $11,000 to build one parking spot inside of a garage. The Tyndall garage cost $12 million to build and the new Sixth Street garage cost $16 million to build, Kass said.

"Parking here is just too expensive," said Pablo Martinez, a psychology junior. "I won't even buy a Zone 1 because it is easier to just walk or ride my bike."

With fewer parking spaces, students and faculty may have to find alternatives to the traditional permits.

Parking and Transportation Services have commuter lot permits available for $115, which allows students and faculty to park their car off campus and take the CatTran to class.

Carpool permits are also available, Kass said. Carpool permits require that three or more individuals share one parking permit.

If parking on or near campus seems like a hassle, UA Parking and Transportation Services offers a U-Pass, which is a bus pass discounted 50 percent.

For those living near campus and commuting by bicycle, there are now 9,000 racks, Kass said.

Venturing outside the UA, the City of Tucson has designated areas north of East Speedway Boulevard and south of East Sixth Street, where students can park for a fee. The permits may cost anywhere between $200 and $400 depending on the location.

Those who are at the top of the waiting list could be issued permits after Sept. 3, when unclaimed permits are reissued.