This letter is being written to correct some inaccurate or missing information provided in the Collegian's editorial article on July 3 ("Got Parking?"). The editorial did not mention numerous safety enhancements in recent years, including a large investment in better lighting in key student parking areas and a strong emphasis on free bus service for students late at night and early in the morning.

Although it is true that the University lost parking spaces this summer in order to prepare for the East Sub campus construction projects (the area bordered by Park Avenue, Bigler, Curtin and Shortlidge Roads), the lost parking is being replaced. A parking deck located on the site of Lot 80 will open for the Fall 2004 semester. The student spaces from Lot 80 are being relocated to the faculty/staff lots located around the East Halls and Pollock/South Halls area. The decision to convert faculty/staff spaces in the residence halls was based on the need to replace those student spaces as well as provide parking opportunities for students closer to the residence halls. Lot 83 North (by the flower gardens) remains a parking option for students. In addition beginning this summer, rates for commuter students parking on the periphery of campus decreased from approximately $16 per month to $5 per month. This reduction in rate was provided to encourage parking on the periphery of campus, to decrease vehicular congestion in the core, and to address safety issues at intersections with heavy student use.

The University has completed several projects over the past year that address student safety concerns in the lots. Last year, the lighting in Lot 83 North was enhanced by adding new light poles and replacing the high-pressure sodium lights with more modern metal halide lights. The Stadium West lot lighting was also enhanced as part of the conversion from event parking to daily use. The lighting in Lot 44 was improved in the prior year also. All of these lighting upgrades were made to eliminate dark areas within the lots and to improve the overall level of safety and sense of well-being. In addition, each of these lots is equipped with emergency phones with direct access to University Police.

The University's Master Plan emphasizes a "pedestrian first" campus, not pedestrian only. The University remains sensitive to the needs of persons with mobility concerns as well as to the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors. The University provides an extensive transit service throughout the year. The campus contracts with the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) to provide frequent no-fare service across campus and to the downtown area. Our campus bus service is one of few campus services operating a fully accessible fleet of CNG buses.

It operates from 4:45 am through 12:30 p.m. during the summer. In the fall and spring, the service is more frequent and operates from 4:45 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. except Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when it runs until 2:30 a.m. Late night service is one of the services provided for the safety of the students. In addition to the Loop and Link campus bus service, the University also contracts for the use of certain CATA bus routes (M, H, P, and U) at no charge to riders while within the campus boundaries.

The parking spaces for the East Sub campus were not displaced carelessly. Their relocation paves the way for the University's academic needs and growth by providing space for the College of Business, School of Forest Resources, and the Department of Food Sciences. As the University grows to meet the needs of its students, changes will occur. The University's Department of Transportation Services will continue to track those changes and provide replacement parking or program alternatives to meet the University's transportation needs.