Commuters Have a Lot to Deal With

By Marilyn Sanderson

If you are a returning student or faculty member at RVCC, you have probably observed the recent construction around the school grounds. If you haven’t noticed, chances are you did become aware that finding a parking spot got a little bit easier this semester. This is due to a new parking area, Lot 7, as well as an expanded Lot 6.

Of course you might be one of those people who thinks there aren’t enough parking spots, simply because you can never get one of the closest, or you may be thinking that these new parking spots are only temporary, because you know the school does plan to construct a building in the middle of parking Lot 2.

However, ultimately, the college will end up with more parking spots than before all the construction began, including more handicapped spaces, Mr. John Maso, executive director of facilities and grounds at RVCC, stated.

“Although we will be taking away spaces temporarily during the building process, many spaces will be returned around the new building as soon as the construction clears,” says Maso.

Lot 7, located next to the planatarium, is intended for student and visitor parking as well as a drop-off point for groups visiting the planetarium, and it includes 139 new spaces. Lot 6 is for faculty members and has expanded by about 38 spaces.

The new parking areas were part of an overall plan to improve the facility, with the foresight for future construction. Included in the construction was a new road that loops around the east side of the property, connecting to an existing road at the far north end. This road makes getting around campus easier and many areas more accessible. Also included was moving the ball fields to a safer area, widening the turning lanes into both parking lot 1 and lot 2, as well as more proper signs, which are being installed presently.

A retention pond was installed below parking lot 1 to regulate the natural water flow.

Overall, the construction encompasses approximately four acres of the school property. Although some trees were removed, many trees were added around the perimeter of the site, not only for aesthetic value but to prevent car headlights from disturbing the neighbors, according to Mr. Maso. The price tag for all the improvements was $1.8 million.