More than two months behind schedule, the new University Apartments Parking Deck is scheduled to open for a "test run" for anyone with a valid Emory parking permit Monday. Students currently parking at Emory West will soon have the option to park in the Michael Street Deck.
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| Nathaniel J. Clark/Photography Editor |
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Workers finish final touches on the new University Apartments Parking Deck which will house 1,900 vehicles beginning Monday.
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Parking officials are optimistic that the new deck, with spaces for 1,900 vehicles, will help ease Emory's on-campus parking congestion.
Director of Parking Bill Collier said his office will begin reassigning Emory Hospital and Emory Clinic employees to UA this month. This will allow the students currently assigned to Emory West to park in on-campus decks like Peavine Parking Deck beginning Nov. 1.
"Initially, we're opening it up for volunteers for the first few weeks," Collier said. "And we're asking anyone with a valid Emory hang-tag to come try it."
Collier said that staff from his office would be at the UA deck for the first few weeks to make sure everything runs smoothly. Parking there will be free during this time. Those parking in the new deck will be brought to campus via shuttles operating on the new shuttle road built through Lullwater and exiting into the Turman Residential Center parking lot. The shuttles will travel between UA and campus every five- to 10 minutes, Collier said.
Students currently parking at Emory West can choose to continue parking there at a reduced parking rate, Collier said.
Those who wish to park on campus will be charged a pro-rated parking fee and given a Michael Street parking permit.
Collier added that while the parking situation on campus has been difficult since the beginning of the school year, the opening of the new deck will alleviate the problem.
"It's going to free up spaces in decks on campus," Collier said. "You won't have to search for spaces as long, and it's also going to eliminate traffic on campus."
Capital Program Manager Hector \Morales said the completion of the $18 million deck, first scheduled for July 31 before the beginning of the school year, was pushed back due to unforeseen complications.
"There were various reasons for the delays, mostly due to unsuitable soil conditions and difficulty with the foundation," Morales said.
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