1/22/11

Ana Anguiano

Student enrollment at Texas State seems to be going up each year, which means
more traffic and fewer parking spots. Ana Anguiano has more in this Bobcat
Update.

Parking has long been an issue for students at Texas State. And, as new
buildings are being constructed to accommodate increased enrollment, the number
of parking lots has shrunk.
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For those who commute, there's always a risk of being ticketed if they park illegally:
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Those who can't afford or refuse to pay for parking permits may have to resort
to riding the Bobcat Tram to and from campus. But that isn't necessarily a
solution, because buses at peak times are filled to capacity.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Ana Anguiano.

Mark Woodburn

Frustration is mounting over campus parking at Texas State. Mark Woodburn has
more in this Bobcat Update:

Enrollment at Texas State University continues to grow annually. With more
students comes an increase in vehicles and a decrease in available on-campus
parking. Student parking permits continue to get more expensive, but Senior
Vernon Wright says the price increases have not led to more parking
availability.
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Post-graduate student Danielle Madsen says commuters from outside the San
Marcos area often are the ones who struggle most to find parking. She says
more parking facilities are needed.
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Many hope that a new all-zone parking garage on Matthews Street will help
relieve the parking problems on campus.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Mark Woodburn

Nicholas Medina

With the start of a new semester at Texas State comes renewed frustration for
students who need to park on campus. Nicholas Medina has more in this Bobcat
Update.

Texas State's parking situation is not a new problem. To park legally on campus,
students must have permits, and permits come at a high cost. Senior Carl Woody
says the price isn't worth it:
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The permits are designated by color indicating a certain level of access for
each parking area. Commuters are issued purple permits and have to park faraway
from classes. Red and green permits are for faculty or students who live on
campus. Some students believe the university issues too many permits for the
limited number of parking spaces, and Senior Lynn McCann is frustrated by the
system:
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McCann as well as others use Bobcat Tram to get to campus, or they just walk to
class. For Bobcat Update, I am Nicholas Medina.

Douglas Bloom

With student population on the rise at Texas State, parking is a big issue on
campus.  Douglas Bloom has more on this Bobcat Update.

With another semester underway, Texas State commuters have to make sure they
allow for plenty of travel time when heading to class. Lots designated for
commuters have become scarcer due to construction.  Students either have to take
the bus to classes or walk.  Even so, students like _______________ still find
purchasing a purple commuter pass worthwhile.
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Others, such as ____________ have decided against purchasing a parking pass
altogether. If they live near campus, they can rely on the bus system.
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Either way you travel to Texas State, one thing is for sure. If you're commuting
to campus, you're going to be heading out the door a little sooner this
semester.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Kelsey Kearns.

1/19/11

Anthony Sifuentes

It's a new semester with many new exciting changes at Texas State, but, for
students, the hassle of finding parking remains. Anthony Sifuentes has more in
this Bobcat Update.

Parking is still scarce as commuters find themselves driving all around campus,
looking for a spot. For many, it can take nearly half an hour to find an empty
space. A couple of commuters, seniors Darin Gosnell and Avron Fernandes, find
the situation annoying as it complicates their daily schedules:
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There are actually plenty of parking spaces, but few that are designated for
students. Some areas require a certain color sticker which many students lack.
More frustrating for students is that many reserved parking slots go unoccupied
and those designated for students are filled up very early in the day.
Occasionally one disregards the rules and parks in a restricted area, only
to be penalized for it.
Gosnell and Fernandes say the University should make parking more accessible.
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As alternatives to parking, some students are bicycling, using Bobcat Tram,
having friends drop them off, or, in some cases, simply walking.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Anthony Sifuentes.

Corey Hogan

As Texas State students begin a new semester, they face an ongoing problem: a shortage of parking on campus. Corey Hogan has more in this Bobcat Update.

Texas State's enrollment is growing, and as more students buy parking permits, parking spaces are more difficult to find. Students who live on campus have the option of buying residential parking permits that allow them to park in several designated lots on campus. For off-campus students, they may purchase commuter permits, which are of limited use. Some students are skeptical about the parking situation.
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The campus has a new parking garage on Matthews Street, but the number of available parking spaces is still limited because of construction on campus. One way to avoid the hassle is to park off-campus.
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Students who don't have a parking permit can park in the L-B-J Student Center for a fee, or they can use the Bobcat Tram shuttle bus system.
For Bobcat Update, I'm Corey Hogan.

Clair Hugo

Students are adjusting to some changes on campus that relate to parking. Clair Hugo has this Bobcat Update.

Parking Service officials are on the job and have been issuing tickets to violators. Parking has always been a struggle at Texas State, and it hasn't been made any easier with the new construction projects on campus. Several parking spots have been eliminated at College Inn and Jackson Halls. New garages have been built, such as the one on Matthews Street, but they haven't been enough to offset the losses.
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Other factors have also contributed to creating an easier flow during busy school days. Commuters and off campus students have different methods of getting to class on time. The Quad Bus Loop is a big help for many.
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Others choose to pay hourly at the L-B-J Center Parking Garage, although prices were recently increased there
For Bobcat Update, I'm Clair Hugo.

John Spain

Many Texas State students confront parking woes on a daily basis. John Spain
has more on this Bobcat Update.

Over the last several years, parking in San Marcos, and especially on the campus
of Texas State University has become an increasingly valuable commodity. Some
students find parking restrictions and the possible fines which accompany them,
an unnecessary and unwelcome strain on an already limited college budget.
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Still, some students find alternate modes of transportation, such as the Texas
State Tram, or optional carpool designated areas to be well-tailored to their
daily routine and distance from campus. Even so, many commuters who purchase a
purple pass still find themselves searching for a place to park.
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The new Matthews Street parking garage is set to open this spring, but it's
still likely not going to be enough. The university's enrollment has increased
significantly, now reaching just over 31-thousand students. It's entirely
possible that the complaints and congestion on campus will only get worse..
For Bobcat Update, I'm John Spain