Juan Villa / The Collegian
Fresno State Police Chief David Huerta faces different parking problems as he tries to provide parking for more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff.
“There’s nothing simple about parking at any university. There are many, many, many considerations and at all times we are in a constant state of review dealing with issues,� Huerta said at a recent interview at the campus police department.
Many students would say the primary parking concern is the lack thereof. So the question becomes, is there enough parking at Fresno State?
“We have to look at all our parking from many perspectives. This is a very complicated process. But we’ve shown through our surveys that there is adequate parking if everyone filled up every spot. It’s a real challenge for us to try to get people conditioned into filling up all available parking,� Huerta said.
On possible solution to the congested parking lots on campus could be to build up — building multi-leveled parking structures.
However, Huerta said parking structures are difficult because of the expense. “We’re in the process of studying two parking structures. Many people believe there’s a big pot of money up at chancellor’s office or somewhere in the state of California for parking garages, and you just dip in,� Huerta said.
“Presently we have a parking structure project under way,� Huerta continued. “For about the last year and a half, we have been really studying the idea of bringing parking structures to the campus, not only for the very near future, being 2010, but well into the future, being 2025, in concert with the master plan.�
Huerta said about two 1,500-car parking structures would cost about $50 million. He said faculty, staff and students would have
to pay more for parking through fee increases.
Fee increases for faculty would be connected to faculty and to their contracts and benefits.
“Parking is a part of their labor contract, believe it or not,� Huerta said. “We’re bound by what’s in their contract.�
Huerta said in the end everyone is going to have to pay for more parking options. “We all have to share in that responsibility.�