As the semester has started to wind down, parking at Truax continues to be an issue. Some students have persistently parked outside of designated issues, leaving fellow students and college administrators looking for answers.

While some students are voicing their opinion on the parking situation in a negative manner toward the college, there are actually more parking spaces available than before the additions to the Truax campus. There are 12 more spaces available now than before the construction started at Truax.

“The perception is that we lost spaces. We didn’t lose any spots,” said Jim Bottoni, chief of Public Safety.  “We gained a few spots.”

Bottoni acknowledged there is an increased traffic through Truax of a higher number of students at the college, but even with that, he said there is an adequate number of spots. Those spots just may not be right up at the front of the lot.

“Sometimes parking spots aren’t available where students want them,” Bottoni said. “Students just have to plan ahead. I know some of our students have work, but you’ll just have to plan accordingly. If parking is at a premium, come a little earlier.”

Even though Public Safety tends to be flexible with people not parking in marked areas, it is starting to crack down, Bottoni said. It has become a safety issue with congestion in the lots and as there will be more snow on the ground, it will become even more of an issue.

“We need emergency vehicles to come through when snow comes in,” Bottoni said. “We’ll need to tow those vehicles.”

One suggestion by college officials was to have night classes when parking is not at such a premium. One drawback is the darkness, but Public Safety has a personal safety escort program in which students can request an escort from Public Safety to their car. That program runs 24 hours a day at the college so it could be used in daytime hours as well.

Also, college officials are continuing discussions to alleviate the problem in the parking lots.

“The college will look at alternative options,” Bottoni said. “It is very conscious of the issue.”

In addition to the college, Student Senate is discussing options as well.

“We’re not at the point of legislating, but we want input,” said David Fernandez, chairman of the commuter services committee in Student Senate.

There are discussions on an incentive-based carpooling program and student housing, which was included in the Facilities Master Plan as a potential option in the future. The Facilities Master Plan was the plan that included the construction plans.

“I just want to clarify that us in senate are working to have a balance of cost-effective solutions and meeting student demand,” Bowden said. “As student leaders, we have to listen to all students.”

An option that has been requested has been a parking structure, which was also included as a potential item in the Facilities Master Plan. There are issues just with Public Safety because a parking structure can be more difficult to staff with officers. However, due to a potential high cost and the need for taxpayer dollars, both Student Senate members and school officials said a structure being built is unlikely.

“It’s important for people to know as students we have responsibility with resources, but we need to make sure we have as many resources as possible,” said Colin Bowden, Student Senate president.

In extreme situations, which both college officials and Student Senate members say is not the case right now, students are encouraged to find other means to get to campus.

“There is a demand right now, not necessarily a need,” Fernandez said. “(Alternative means) will lower the demand for parking. People don’t want to deal with it so they don’t want to walk.”

Students going to any of the Madison-based campuses can obtain a bus pass, which allows them to ride Madison Metro buses for free during a given semester. The pass can be used to go to campuses for class or anywhere on the bus routes. It can be obtained through the Student Life office at Truax, room C1420 or at the Downtown campus in room D237.

There are shuttles that go between the West and Downtown campuses and Truax and Downtown. Students may utilize those to commute to any of those campuses.

College officials say there are discussions on possibly adding more shuttle options, but that is not official yet. In the beginning of the fall semester, there was a shuttle between the Commercial Avenue campus and Truax to encourage parking at Commercial, but due to low ridership, that was discontinued.