All underclassmen will likely be able to park in the Blue Zone this year, administrators said, tentatively banishing earlier fears that commuters would have to park in the remote lots on Duke University Road.
As off-campus residents who requested Blue Zone permits move off the waitlist this week, parking officials are optimistic that every underclassman who wants to park in the Blue Zone will be able to.
"Our priority is to have both undergraduates who live on and off-campus in the Blue Zone," said Joe Pietrantoni, associate vice president for auxiliary services. "When we saw the comfortable numbers, it looked like it was going to happen."
As of last Wednesday afternoon, West Campus residents--who have priority on Blue Zone permits through the end of this week--had claimed fewer than 950 of the 1,495 Blue Zone spots, and there were only 98 commuters on the waitlist. Beginning this Thursday, commuting students who indicated preference for the Blue Zone will be taken off the waitlist and given any remaining Blue Zone spots. Until Thursday, West Campus residents may buy a parking permit from the Parking and Transportation Office on Campus Drive. After Thursday, however, all students will have equal chance at any remaining spots.
Duke Student Government President Joshua Jean-Baptiste said the windfall comes from a high original estimate, which was based on the higher permit demand of students who lived in Trent.
Parking and Transportation Services will notify the waitlisted commuters about their status through e-mail and campus mail. Director of Parking and Transportation Services Cathy Reeve said if residents do not receive notice by Sept. 6, they should contact the parking office. Both on- and off-campus residents could register online for parking permits during a several-week period that ended Aug. 15. Off-campus residents could only indicate a preference for the $180 Blue Zone permit, which entered them on a waitlist.
Commuting students who wanted a permit but did not choose to be waitlisted received a $10 remote permit in the Duke University Road lots. There are 307 spots in the lot, but Reeve said there is no upper limit on how many permits may be sold.
Jean-Baptiste recommended they take advantage of the Blue Zone. "I strongly encourage getting a Blue Zone permit because it's the only lot with a one-to-one ratio, so you are guaranteed a spot," he said. "My worst nightmare would be to have a class in 10 minutes and there not be a spot in the dirt lot because it is oversold."
Some commuters, like senior Eva Wilkenson, would prefer the Blue Zone but have not yet applied. Those people will be eligible only after those on the waitlist have been taken care of. Wilkenson said the safety and proximity of the Blue Zone makes it a superior option and that she hopes she will get a permit for it.
"Everyone I know who lives off-campus is stressed about the parking situation," she said. "[All undergraduates receiving Blue Zone permits] would definitely reduce so much stress."
Senior Steve Strickland, who lives in the Belmont Apartments, also is not on the waitlist, but said that if he does not get a Blue Zone permit, he will ride a bike to class, rather than park in the Duke University lots.
Senior Loree Lipstein chose an apartment within walking distance from East Campus to avoid parking issues. "During the parking fiasco, we were so happy we wouldn't have to deal with it all--it was definitely a plus for the apartment," Lipstein said. "Besides not having to deal with the hassle of driving to class and finding a spot, we also don't have to pay to park in the Blue Zone."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.