Ask Inside: Parking situation better than anticipated; congestion a concern

Parking is still a concern to some, but reports from around campus indicate that the parking situation isn't as difficult as was originally anticipated. Thanks to the cooperation of students, faculty and staff—especially in north and central campus—parking at the start of the semester is better than expected.

Parking Services recently opened P10A (east of the School of Communication) for AE parking, which will help ease parking challenges by adding around 50 additional stalls for faculty and staff.

Traffic congestion, however, remains a concern. The staff from the Capital Assets will monitor traffic patterns through the first few weeks of the semester to determine if any changes are needed.

If you have any NAU-related questions, send them to inside@nau.edu. Read a compilation of all the parking questions and answers submitted through Inside NAU.

QUESTION: I have noticed that the speeds, especially on Knoles Drive going north from University, have greatly increased. Few drive at or near 15 mph and most appear to be much above that speed. It becomes dangerous to cross. I am afraid to step into the crosswalk because many drivers ignore the crosswalks. Also, aren't bicyclists bound by the same driving laws as motor vehicles? I see very few that stop at stop signs. They also persistently drive on the sidewalks and should be in the street. As a pedestrian, there are days I fear for my life just trying to cross a street or walk on a sidewalk.

ANSWER: Yes, bicyclists are subject to the same laws as vehicles while they are traveling on the roadway. The NAU Police Department has some bicycle regulations on its web site.

If NAUPD stops a bicyclist on campus for a traffic violation, the rider is subject to a university citation or the same citation a driver of a vehicle is issued out of Flagstaff Justice Court.

If you have a specific area of campus that you feel is a problem, NAUPD encourages you to call (928) 523-3611 or fill out a report online. That way the police can direct traffic enforcement efforts into those areas.

The day-shift patrol officers will be notified of your concerns and will conduct some enforcement in that area. It's hoped that the situation will settle down once drivers are accustomed to the new traffic pattern.

Q: I have a carpool spot in Parking lot 18A, but ever since classes started I haven't been able to park there. Every day there is someone else parked there, even when I arrive around 8 a.m. Is there anyway you can improve enforcement of these spots? Perhaps you could stencil "reserved" on the asphalt in the spot. Or maybe you could "boot" the offenders. At the moment, no one seems to be taking the signs very seriously.

A: Parking Services is enforcing parking regulations and has been notified of your situation. If someone is parked illegally in your carpool spot, call (928) 523-9066 and a dispatcher will be sent out right away to ticket the car.

Q: As a long-time employee who has parked in the Fronske parking lot and paid the very expensive parking fees, I find it very disconcerting that because of new parking procedures I can no longer find a parking place. Not only can the employees not find a place to park but it also is a problem for our customers. If they can't park here, they won't shop here.

A: Reports coming in from around campus are indicating that parking isn't as difficult as was anticipated, though you may not be as close to your office as in the past. The opening of the central campus parking garage near Ardrey Auditorium should alleviate much of the parking congestion in central campus. The garage is expected to be open in October.

We're not sure which customers can't find parking. Fronske patients and tour participants have reserved parking in the area. Bookstore customers may park in any authorized area.

Q: I have read your answer to HOW we are supposed to access certain parts of campus now that we can't use one of the two main thruways, Knoles Drive.

My question is WHY was this thruway closed in the first place? At a time when you are trying to encourage less driving on campus, the access solutions given require more driving both on and off campus, often on more congested city streets.

At a time when parking has gotten more difficult and time-consuming, these solutions add even more difficulty and more time to parking. Please explain why this road closure has been done. Thank you.

A: As mentioned in the Aug. 2 and Aug. 23 editions of Inside NAU, the change is being made now to lessen traffic mingling with construction vehicles near the site of hotel-conference center complex. It is the first step in establishing parking on the periphery of campus, which is part of the university's master plan.

Q: It's a good thing I received the Inside NAU newsletter this week, otherwise I would not have known about the "gate [that] was installed near Blome" and the "planters [which] have been placed across Knoles." Because I could have sworn what I was looking at were concrete barriers. (Maybe those are nicknamed "planters?" I am not very familiar with the industry jargon.) The editors should be proud of the fact that they are so adept at reporting the truth as it should be. After all, why wait until something has already happened to report that it has? Just get ahead of the game.

I was also interested to read about through traffic being diverted through a parking lot. This makes a lot of sense, because with vehicles parked perpendicularly on both sides of this through traffic (behind Gammage and geology buildings), the chance of accidents actually diminishes! The now-heavy mix of bicycles, pedestrians and cars in this parking lot will certainly not be any cause for worry among the people who work in the area. Through traffic in a narrow parking lot... What a great idea! Why hadn't anyone thought of it before?

This whole series of changes reeks of anything but change for changes sake. Kudos to all those who planned it, and all those who have helped to disseminate misinformation related to it!

Keep up the good work!

A: You're referring to the printed edition of Inside NAU, which said the planters are in place. That obviously is not the case. The electronic version of the same edition said the planters "will be" installed…which is accurate. The planters and gate are scheduled to arrive and be installed by the end of October.

The travel lanes behind Gammage and the geology buildings are the same size as they were before any route changes, and no bus routes run behind the building. Capital Assets staff has been checking the lot three times a day since classes started and it appears that thru traffic has not increased by a great amount and no significant problems have been reported.

Even though there is adequate room for one-way traffic and perpendicular parking, you still need to consider the traffic situation as you back out of a stall.

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