The possibility of students parking earlier in staff lots and construction projects aimed at improving parking availability were discussed on Wednesday during the second parking forum of the semester.

Tom Gaffery, Fresno State’s parking and transportation manager, discussed a field study taking place to assess the possibility of modifying parking restrictions in the yellow lots to allow students to park there earlier than the current 7 p.m. rule.

Recommendations from the study will be sent to the campus planning committee by the end of this month. The findings will also be sent to the Academic Senate and then to Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro’s cabinet.

The university plans to come up with a course of action based on this study after the end of this semester.

Gaffery discussed plans to initiate a project, costing around $100,000, to patch potholes and cracks across campus in the coming weeks. Funding for projects like this come from revenue generated by parking fees and fines.

Engineers have completed plans to conduct minor renovations to the P30 lot by the Henry Madden Library and the P4 lot behind the Joyal Administration Building. Construction in the lots would be postponed until work begins on the electrical infrastructure so that both can be finished simultaneously.

A redesign plan has also been initiated for the P1 and P2 lots next to the Kremen Education Building and the Smittcamp Alumni House. Gaffery estimated that 100 additional spaces could be added to the lots simply by reorienting the spaces and changing landscaping in the same area.

Wrought iron fencing would also be installed along Shaw Avenue from Woodrow to Maple avenues.

Gafferey said that any plans to build a parking structure would not be started until after work on deferred maintenance and other needs were completed.

The next parking forum will be held on March 18 at the Henry Madden Library in Room 2108.