Parking situation draws concern

January 26, 2009 by Adelin Grema 

Construction, location may decrease safety

UNLV’s new parking garage, expected to be completed late this year, is set to ease the parking situation but raises some security concerns. 

The new 1,011-space parking structure should relieve the lack of convenient spaces in the existing campus garage and campus parking lots, but can be of concern in light of recent campus, including a stabbing early this month and a Jan. 12 incident where a student was chased by a man with a knife.

According to the UNLV Police Services’ daily logs, there are many reported incidents of robberies and harassments, although the main parking security issue is still hit and runs occurring in the garage and parking lots. 

UNLV Police offers escort services for students who feel they are not safe when walking alone to their car, a service which may see increased use given the nature of the new structure. 

A priority for most students is parking availability. According to CSUN Business Senator David Rapoport, the new parking structure also  creates “a problem because the parking spots in the Red Lot were changed to staff parking and the residents [of student housing] had to travel farther.” 

The new parking garage off Tropicana Avenue is being built in the Red Lot of the Thomas & Mack. The lot was closed to all vehicles and any cars left overnight were moved to a different location on Jan. 9.

Additional parking has since been provided in the Black Lot and additional handicap parking is located closer to the Thomas & Mack and in the lots west of the CBC. 

There are concerns associated with this new project because of its location, however UNLV Police Services recommends that students who park in the new garage lock their valuables somewhere they cannot be easily seen. They also suggest students should walk to the parking structure.

Despite safety concerns, some students have a positive outlook for the new parking garage. 

Darryl Mulford, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering said,  “A new parking garage will be great as long as it has more student parking spots and doesn’t raise our tuition fees.”

 

CONTACT:

UNLV Police: (702) 895-3668.