For the fall semester, the university fast-tracked a B Street driveway into the Harry Griffith Hall general lot, with a number of spaces restored now that the driveway is open.
Planning ahead for the 2010/2011 academic year, HSU reclassified half the Jolly Giant Lot from residential to general, an area only a few minutes’ walk from the campus proper. University Parking’s daytime surveys indicate there are often open spaces in Jolly Giant when other lots have filled.
Several hundred students volunteered to leave their cars at home this fall and take advantage of new racks that can accommodate some 1,200 bicycles. “We greatly appreciate our students’ willingness and flexibility,” said University Police Chief Tom Dewey.
Students are making expanded use of the popular Jack Pass program of unlimited free bus rides, another element of the HSU’s long-standing master plan to become more pedestrian-friendly and ease congestion. Like bicycling, the student-led Jack Pass initiative helps relieve demand for parking.
“The Jack Pass makes much of Arcata and the central county into a viable park-and-ride network,” Dewey noted. Motorists headed south to Arcata can use many free all-day parking areas in Valley West and at other locations along Arcata transit’s ‘Gold Route.’ Commuters headed north have access to counterpart free parking areas in the Sunny Brae vicinity and other bus stops along the ‘Red Route.’” Routes and schedules are posted at www.hta.org.
The Jack Pass is available to staff and faculty at $60 a semester and it is good at any time on any bus operated by Redwood Transit and Eureka Transit and on Arcata and Willow Creek routes. HSU officials are currently in talks with transit operators to equip buses with wireless service and enable riders to stay connected while en route.
Humboldt State has taken other measures to enhance parking availability and limit the impacts of building and lot construction. For example, the conversion to short-term parking meters around the Student Business Services (SBS) Building gives students more opportunities to find spaces when visiting the registrar, financial aid and other key offices.
All of the existing staff and faculty spaces north of SBS have been preserved and there are 173 spaces in the south side area, where redevelopment is slated during the first stage of a parking renovation and expansion project that is about to begin. When phase one construction is complete, the number of spaces will rise to 257 regular and six ADA slots from the current 173.
Completion timetables hinge, as always in Humboldt County, on weather. “The realities of working with asphalt around here will limit the total number of spaces we can add before next summer,” Dewey said.
In the meantime, and as part of the parking upgrade, HSU is expediting the demolition of the Redwood Manor Apartments this fall and will reclaim a number of parking spaces adjoining that complex.
“We are also going to install new parking permit dispensers to improve convenience for drivers,” Dewey said. “And long-term, we’ll be building a new driveway entrance and new spaces in the large lot between Harpst Street and Wagner House along L.K. Wood Boulevard. This is another key part of our master plan. It will help to reduce traffic congestion permanently and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety at Harpst and Rossow Streets.”
University officials welcome suggestions and ideas to ease traffic and parking pressures. “Within serious financial constraints, we are doing everything we can and the campus community has come up with some great ideas,” Dewey said. “For example, we are actively exploring several off-campus locations that might serve as overflow venues for park-and-ride Jack Pass customers. There are definite obstacles, including costs and logistics, but it is worth considering and we welcome everyone with an idea to join in our brainstorming. With everyone’s cooperation, we can certainly ease the crunch while we advance our short-term and long-planned solutions.”