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STUDENTS FIND PARKING SOLUTION AT ERP
With record enrollment this year and
various construction projects throughout the campus, many
students have made an effort to find a new solution to their
transportation needs. The shuttle lot at Energy Research Park
has become a popular option for many commuter students during
the first week of the semester, and an additional 300 spaces
were added in time for the second week.
�The additional 300 parking spaces will not only benefit the UH
students but will also improve parking for the tenants at the
Energy Research Park. Also the new loop road for the bus route
will help expedite transportation to and from the campus,� said
Robert Browand, Director of UH Parking and Transportation
Services.
Student commuters can park in student commuter or economy spaces
at Energy Research Park and ride a shuttle that drops off in
front of the University Center. There are three shuttle buses
for the route, one of which is the ERP Express that runs
directly from the ERP parking lot to the UC throughout the day.
The other two shuttles make an additional stop at a METRO Park
and Ride station.
�I like it. You don�t have to look around for parking,� said
Mayra Gutierrez, a math sophomore that parked at ERP the first
week of classes. �I�d rather go straight there instead of having
to drive around and look and then go.�
Thomas Sharp, a mechanical engineering sophomore, said he tried
parking on campus the day before and ended up at the far end of
one of the temporary lots. So that day he decided to try ERP.
�Today I got here at about the same time and parked here, no
problem. There were rows that were still empty.�
With an increase in traffic during the first week, wait times
were averaging between 15 to 20 minutes, but these times are
expected to improve as the semester goes on and traffic becomes
lighter. The ERP shuttles start up at 8 a.m. and run until 8
p.m. Students that need a ride to the lot after 8 p.m. may
request a ride from the Campus Loop driver until 11 p.m. Monday
through Thursday and until 9 p.m. on Fridays.
During the first week of classes, UH Parking and Transportation
Services worked diligently to complete the repaving of a portion
of the economy lot at ERP. The expansion was completed on
Monday, August 29, to add another 300 parking spaces to the
economy lot. Once the back lot opened to make the spaces
available to students, seven rows of the covered parking area
were expected to be converted to faculty/staff parking for those
working on the Energy Research Park campus. Overall, the ERP lot
can hold 500 spaces for student commuters with another 150
spaces available in the covered area as needed.
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