With enrollment numbers on the rise, finding the elusive parking spot for some Texas A&M International University students and staff has become as challenging as bagging a trophy deer is for hunters. You are more likely to catch a glimpse of a deer and less likely to bag the ideal parking spot.
But don’t despair – help is on the way; a new parking lot on the west side of the Student Center is set for completion by early September. The lot will be ready for use later this month and provide more than 200 paved spaces.
“After years of saying we weren’t there yet, it has finally happened,” states an official university email to employees on Thursday, Aug. 27. The email continued, “On Tuesday, Aug. 25, there were no legal parking spaces available on campus from 11 a.m. to noon, and between 2 and 3 p.m.”
“Meeting the university’s parking needs is an ongoing challenge, but it will improve,” said Juan Castillo Jr., chief financial officer at TAMIU. “We are on the situation on a daily basis.”
“The university is taking some stop-gap measures to meet the parking situation,” said Castillo. “Two dirt parking lots have been temporarily set up to meet the needs of the university.”
129 temporary spots were made available: 46 on the west side of the Western Hemispheric Trade Center and 83 on the east side by the athletic fields.
“Other options under consideration are 290 future parking spots at the currently under construction Student Success Building on the south side,” said Castillo.
Last fall the university reported 5,850 students enrolled for the semester; currently 6,350 unofficial students are registered. Official numbers are due by the middle of the month.