Overflow parking closure

Temporary overflow parking lots on the Edinburg and Brownsville campuses have been closed due to recent weather changes and a decrease in parking demand, according to UTRGV Parking Services.

Pablo Aguilar, director of Parking Services, said the university opened two temporary overflow parking lots on the Edinburg campus and one on the Brownsville campus because of high-parking demand at the beginning of the semester.

“We experienced a peak in demand this year,” Aguilar said. “We noticed the first two weeks of school [are] usually busy this year. We noticed it was busier.”

The lots remained open until recent rainfall prompted Parking Services to close them as a safety precaution.

“We didn’t really want students, or anybody for that matter, to risk getting stuck in any of those lots,” Aguilar said.

He said he estimated the temporary overflow lots accommodated about 35 to 40 vehicles. However, demand began to decline in the third week of the semester.

Parking Services does not plan to reopen the overflow lots unless demand increases again, according to Aguilar.

He said Parking Services has observed the traffic patterns and the parking lots have more availability, however, he acknowledges it is difficult to find parking during peak time.

“I feel, like, since they closed it down, there’s not really enough for, like, everyone to park,” said Julissa Ramos, an education freshman.

Ramos said parking has become worse since the beginning of the semester, particularly during peak hours.

“Honestly I think it’s gotten a little bit worse … but it’s always been bad,” she said.

Ramos said she can spend 30 minutes looking for parking when she arrives around noon. So, to avoid the congestion, she tries to arrive between 7:30 or 8 a.m.

She said parking difficulties have not made her late to class, but have affected her daily routine because she has to wake up earlier.

Ramos said she typically parks near the arts center or in Lot E9 and uses campus transportation when necessary.

Allison Lopez, a visual communication design senior, said finding an available parking space can get hectic.

Lopez said it’s not worth paying for an expensive parking permit if they can’t find parking.

“I just hope they improve it soon because it’s always been an issue,” she said. “I mean I’m a senior now, I’ve been having issues [with parking] ever since I was a freshman.”

Aguilar said the busiest parking lots that fill up quickly are parking Lot E9 and E16 on the Edinburg campus and Lot B1 on the Brownsville campus.

He said students should try to use remote lots such as E33, E34 and E35 on the Edinburg campus because it is more convenient to park there during peak times.

“We have about [400-500] spaces that go underutilized in the Edinburg campus, which are remote parking lots,” Aguilar said.

He said Parking Services continues to work with the Planning and Construction department to explore possibilities for a possible parking expansion.

Aguilar said he suggests students monitor parking availability before arriving on campus to help them decide where to park.

“Its going to be … way better for students to take advantage of those open spaces,” he said.