The new academic year for Fresno State is here, and along with it, new parking complications. Effective Aug. 1, P27 is exclusive to student housing residents while Fresno State is in the process of transitioning into a virtual parking permit system.
The university is enforcing this new restriction on P27 in order to make room for construction contractors to break ground on the new student housing project that will commence this fall.
“The change was necessitated to accommodate the upcoming construction of a new affordable student housing project, which will begin construction later this fall,” said Derek Brantley, parking and transportation manager with the Fresno State Police Department. “The priority for this lot is to support the parking requirements for our student housing residents.”
The new student housing building will provide more dorms and will also include housing for students who are parents.
In order to utilize P27, residents will need to display a “resident” parking permit on their dashboard at all times. This permit is only valid in P27, however, the permit is valid in any other parking lot after 6 p.m. Student housing residents will receive information from student housing on how to request the permit.
Students who fail to provide a “resident” parking permit and utilize P27 are subject to citation. However, Fresno State Police will provide guidance for students to steer in a different direction to avoid citations.
“In an effort to enhance compliance, Community Service Specialists will be stationed in the area to offer guidance and alternative parking options to drivers who might have otherwise parked illegally,” Brantley said.
According to University Communications, the designated additional parking to make up for the loss of this lot is P5, P6 and the Save Mart Center.
To accommodate students utilizing the Save Mart Center parking lots, a temporary shuttle will run every 20 minutes to transport students from the Save Mart Center Parking lot 1 to the Campus Drive Circle near the north and south gyms Monday through Friday.
The shuttle will have a limited number of seats so priority will be given to those students who have parked in the Save Mart Center parking lots.
“For ADA (wheelchair) transportation requests, students should utilize the SCOUT program,” according to a press release on Fresno State News written by Lisa Bell, public information officer for University Communications.
The plans for the reconstruction of P20 are also underway, which will add an extensive amount of new parking spaces through the infill of existing retention basins.
“This project will require securing system wide financing due to estimated total project cost,” Brantley said.
Since P27 was the only parking lot that allowed overnight parking, students can use P20 for overnight parking.
Bell wants to remind students about their affordable parking rates.
“As a reminder, Fresno State has the second lowest parking permit in the entire CSU system and rates have not increased for over 12 years,” Bell said.
This semester is also the first time that year-long parking permits are not available for purchase.
The reason is because the university is transitioning to a virtual parking permit system that will be enforced beginning the Spring 2025 semester.
“As a result, this upcoming semester will be the last one in which students are required to display physical parking permits,” Brantley said.
For questions about either project, students can contact Brantley at [email protected] or Erin Boele, director of student housing, at [email protected].
