Businesses downtown and out of town are expanding. That means more employees, more consumers and more cars. In addition, Penn State has expanded by accepting more students, many of whom are attending the university.

There is no question there are more cars since this survey was conducted. Therefore, the problem has only gotten worse, and the borough needs more parking.

The State College Borough Council sponsored the survey in 1997 to determine the depth of parking concerns. Late last month, it continued discussing the addition of more parking spaces downtown.

The council has identified two areas where it could increase parking -- the McAllister Street Parking Deck and the Days Inn Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St. The council may expand the McAllister parking deck or work with the Days Inn to augment parking space.

The council also has discussed adding spaces to current parking lots and creating new, small lots. It also may use some of the property intended for the new municipal building on the 200 block of South Allen Street for parking.

The council's recognition and discussion of parking concerns will speed up this process of determining how to fix the problem. However, the council needs to stop talking and begin acting.

Since the 1997 survey, which did not even measure the number of vehicles turned away from full parking decks, the council has been aware of this major parking problem and little action has been taken since then to remedy it.

As Penn State grows, Interstate 99 construction continues and new businesses open in the borough, the parking problem will only worsen as the council discusses. A plan must take effect, such as the excellent idea to add parking to the municipal building, so the problem is fixed.

Unless a parking solution is implemented, the borough will turn off prospective businesses and consumers and lose precious tax money to actually do something. While the council has the resources and time, it must act quickly to fix the problem.