The parking landscape at UAB is changing for the better with the start of construction in lots 15F and 15R this past week.
According to Kimberley Fort, Director of Parking and Transportation, the University is realigning the parking in lot 15F and adding two parking to lot 15R to maximize the area.
The goal is to minimize the loss of parking space due to the construction of the UAB softball complex.
“The softball construction kind of cut the parking lot in half and took the street parking and so what we’re doing is going in and realigning all of the parking bays, which will increase the parking numbers over there so that we don’t lose as many spaces with the softball field project,” said Fort.
The parking lot of the Business and Engineering Complex is currently under construction. Fort asks students ‘to be patient’ until January.
Construction is also continuing on the 9th Avenue deck behind the School of Public Health. Fort said that construction for both the 9th Avenue deck and lots 15F and 15R, close to the BEC, are on time and expects both projects to be finished by January.
When asked what her advice is to students upset about parking, Fort replied, “Be patient and hang in there, a lot of this is going to be done by January.”
Students will see even more changes when construction begins on the 12th Avenue deck in six to eight weeks. Sheila Chaffin, Executive Director of Campus Planning, predicts that the 12th Avenue project will last about a year and will add two levels with 370 new spaces.
Both Fort and Chaffin say that the overall goal is to have parking around the perimeter of campus so that students can park relatively easy and enjoy their time on campus.
“What we strive for is to make parking a nonissue so that you can get to campus and get your business done and focus on your classes or your job,” said Fort.
According to Chaffin, another long-term goal is to increase and improve transit around UAB and Birmingham so people do not have to rely so heavily on their automobiles.
Chaffin believes increased and improved transit will greatly benefit UAB because, “When you get to that point, you don’t have to fool around building parking all the time.”
“Transit becomes real important when you’re in an urban setting like we are—how to get the people in, how to get them out conveniently– so we spend a lot of time on where the transit routes should go. Transit is the answer for a region like this,” Chaffin added.
Hernandez Stroud, USGA President, believes parking is the most important issues students at UAB face right now. “More than tuition, dining, and textbook prices, parking challenges, specifically this year, has affected more students than I have ever witnessed,” said Stroud.
Stroud said that he knows the parking situation cannot be “fixed” altogether this year but hopes that submit some suggestions will help “alleviate some of the tensions of finding a space when you need it.”
Stroud said the administration is willing to listen and encourages students who would like to voice an opinion to attend the USGA Student Forum on September 25. The forum will discuss many different issues affecting UAB students, not just parking.
“President Garrison, Provosts, Vice-Presidents, Directors, Managers, and representatives from all walks of UAB will be in attendance to answer your questions, hear your thoughts, and take suggestions on issues that matter most to students,” said Stroud.
For additional information on parking construction, as well as up-to-date information on lot closings and temporary lots visit the UAB Parking and Transportation Office online.
Heather Caygle
Staff Writer
hcaygle@uab.edu
