As the attendance of morning classes at USF St. Petersburg increases, desirable parking spots rapidly decline, which forces some commuter students to seek parking around campus.
As some students rush to the top floor of the USFSP garage, which is reserved for on-campus residents, the stress of finding a spot leaves students settling for city parking meters.
“Some people have zero awareness for speed-limits and/or others in the garage,” said student Chelsea Railey. “I try to avoid it.”
From tailgating to hit and runs, the parking garage seems to be a nightmarish place for commuters.
Katrina Weeks, among other students, has had her share of parking issues.
“Living over 50 miles away with a toddler, there are times I just can’t leave any earlier on the weekdays,” she said. “When it takes over 20 minutes, being cursed at, and almost hit to find a parking spot on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., I begin to wonder why I pay the school to park there at all.”
Around campus, it was rumored that a new parking garage would be constructed. But there are no plans for a new parking garage, according to William Benjamin, purchasing manager at USFSP.
“An extension was going to be added to the current parking garage a few years ago, but it didn’t happen,” he said.
Benjamin also thinks there is enough parking on campus.
“It’s not that there isn’t enough parking, there are just so many commuting students with classes between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.”
Some students find it surprising that nothing has been done.
“My main issue with parking is the fact that we can’t get passes with our financial aid (until we get the check, that is),” said Jacqueline Barrett. “I got $75 worth of parking tickets the first week of school because I didn’t have money for parking.”
Students also have access to additional parking lots located near Harbor Hall.
