It’s a new school year, yet parking continues to be an issue on Le Moyne’s campus. All around, whether it is students or faculty members, people are disgruntled, confused, and simply wanting a resolution.

In an online survey, approximately 40 percent of the respondents thought that compared to previous years, last year in particular, the parking situation at Le Moyne has gotten better. However, approximately 60 percent of the respondents expressed that it has gotten worse.

“Compared to last year it has gotten better,” said junior and resident Vicki Harris. “I think it’s because last year they oversold parking passes; this year it doesn’t appear they did. They should make sure they don’t over-sell passes so everyone has a spot.”
According to Director of Security Mark Petterelli, the parking issues have shifted this year. Last year, there were more issues in the residential lots. Whereas this year, the majority of the problems with finding spaces are in the commuter and faculty lots: Lots C, A, and AA.

“I think that commuter parking gets worse every year,” said senior and commuter Ashley Colon. “What security should do is open all lots for all students during school hours.”

“This year is the first year I have experienced problems with parking,” said junior and commuter Yuriy Zdebskyy. Zdebskyy stated that during the previous two years, there was never as much as a shortage of parking as there is this year. “The most obvious solution to the parking shortage is to build a new parking space.”

Petterelli, along with the parking committee made up of members from across the campus community, are always discussing some of the problems that the campus is facing and trying to come up with solutions. Whether these are short-term solutions or ideas that are instituted in the following years, they are always working on it.

“A good part of every day of mine is spent on parking issues and trying to find solutions so that we can get our students in and out of campus as easily as possible,” stated Petterelli.

These temporary solutions currently include parking students — commuters in particular — on the field beside the Performing Arts Center and the island down by the AA lot.

While parking is a challenge on most college campuses, Le Moyne has tried to address the issues on this campus and make improvements. In fact, last fall an extension lot was built directly behind the Athletic Center to alleviate the crowding in Lot C, A, and AA, and accommodates visitors and commuters as well as faculty.

Additionally, the overcrowding in residential lots such as Lot E was alleviated, as sophomores living in Foery, Dablon, or Nelligan are now allowed to park in Lot D.

Some members of the community place blame on the number of parking passes that they give out.

“It could be a point of discussion,” said Petterelli. “In theory, with residential lots you could do that, but a commuter needs to get to and from campus and the majority of them drive.”

The process of planning is very strategic with specific lots, Petterelli added. Petterelli and the parking committee know that lots are generally full. Therefore, they place students in specific lots according to different factors, in order to maximize all the parking spaces.

The increase in the number of students accepted into the college has also been a point of discussion and blame. How can the college increase its acceptance rate and not increase the amount of parking? Although this doesn’t fall directly in Petterelli’s department, he ensures the community that he is talking to everyone that he can in an effort to solve this problem.

“[In the end] I ask that the community be patient; it’s a process every semester,” said Petterelli. “Early on, there are generally more students, visitors and people coming to campus. Once we get into the flow of the semester, it reduces the amount of traffic coming to campus.”