Editor,
I am writing in response to Monday's article about the closing of Zia Lot. Closing Zia Lot will not help improve gas prices - all it will do is add to the mass chaos of hundreds of students waiting for the shuttle at South Lot.
Every day I park in South Lot and walk to Zia Lot with many of my fellow students in hopes to get to class on time. In my opinion, the reason for the drop in parking passes for South Lot is because students know that if they purchase a parking pass for Zia Lot, they have a better chance of getting to class on time and
sitting in an actual seat as opposed to
standing.
I totally agree with student Christina Lovato, who said the change is going to cause backups and make people late for classes. I really do not think the UNM faculty realizes the agony South Lot students go through. Even when you arrive at the lot an hour before class, there are huge crowds herding around the bus like cattle, ready to stampede anyone who gets in their way.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Joshua Kavanagh, associate director for Parking and Transportation Services, said the change should not cause many problems. Obviously, this person doesn't use or regularly park in South Lot.
"We've studied the use of the lots and are confident that South Lot can accommodate the number of vehicles parked in both South and Zia at any given time," Kavanagh said.
If parking and transportation thoroughly studied the South Lot process, it would realize that we need another shuttle if it plans on shutting down Zia Lot.
Kavanagh said after people get used to the change, all of the main campus customers will be pleased with the results. I doubt it.
The problem isn't gas prices - parking and transportation receives enough revenue from our passes and the tickets it shells out. The problem is that parking and transportation does not care about South Lot students.
Lucia M. Fronterotta
UNM student
