Parking officers ease traffic

Barstow Avenue's congestion during school days gets extra attention

By Irene Thirlwall

Students and faculty who use Barstow Avenue as their route to the Fresno State campus on early weekday mornings experience smoother traffic thanks to the assistance of campus parking officers.

Driving to school during the 7 a.m. hour, students find a line of cars at every entrance to the campus. As a result of the work from the Fresno State Office of Parking, led by Parking Administrator Gary Beddingfield, traffic runs quicker and smoother.

Under the direction of Beddingfield, there are eight full-time parking officers and some additional part-time student assistants. These officers can be found from 7:30 a.m. to about 8:15 a.m. Monday through Friday directing traffic along Barstow Avenue.

“ It is a positive thing. It helps students and traffic,” said Mervin Roman, a full-time parking officer who has worked for the department for seven years.

Roman said the beginning of the semester is the busiest, but traffic dies down as the semester progresses.

“ Some say ‘thanks,’ or ‘good job,’ some wave or smile and some curse,” Roman said of students and other drivers who pass by them in the mornings.

Marie Certa has been a parking officer for three years. Certa is a graduate of Fresno State with a degree in biology. She worked for the department while she was still a student and said she found it was a great way to pay for school.

“ I think they see us as being very helpful, allowing traffic to flow,” Certa said of the students’ view of traffic officers.

“ Sometimes they walk without us letting them,” Certa said of the pedestrians at the crosswalks, who are often impatient students running late for class. But she said she has had no bad experiences on the job.

“ We are kind of a necessity out there,” said Rick Reyes, a parking officer for three years and a senior majoring in social work.

Reyes said they are out there during the peak rush hours and it helps if students plan ahead and try to get there earlier—an idea he himself has practiced.

“ Some students get here early to get parking and then sleep in their cars,” Reyes said.

Reyes said some drivers roll down their windows as they drive by and say “thank you.” He said that makes him feel good.

The only negative aspect he has experienced is anxious pedestrians in a hurry to get to class, he said.

These officers are also involved with events at the Save Mart Center.

“ It is a little different. A lot more congestion and people are different,” Certa said. “People are confused. It is a learning process.”

With the addition of 600 spaces added to lot Q last year, there are now 1,300 spaces in the parking lot on the north side of Barstow Avenue. This has created a lot more traffic with cars and pedestrians.

To help alleviate the problem, the Office of Parking and Transportation is proposing a stoplight be put in at Campus Drive and Barstow Avenue.

It has been presented to the campus planning committee comprised of administration, students and some outside parties.

It will be voted on in December and if approved, it is planned to be up and running by next fall.

Beddingfield also said he plans to add additional parking officers to his staff to help with the growing parking and traffic congestion.

Any parking questions or information can be obtained at www.csufresno.edu/parking or by calling 278-2950.