Has The Parking Puzzle Been Solved?
By Cheyanne Rizzitano

Parking continues to be a challenge at Fitchburg State University, with students expressing concerns over the limited availability of spaces on campus. The main concern is the availability, of parking passes issued throughout the year which are more than spots available.
“It’s annoying. If you leave campus to go somewhere, you are not guaranteed a spot when you come back,” said Sarah Banville, a junior resident. “ It’s especially difficult to park in a lot close to your dorm, which doesn’t feel safe at night.” With cars needing to be parked farther from main campus buildings, some have raised other concerns, such as the difficulty of being able to quickly evacuate and leave campus in an emergency.
Inclement weather and snow create additional challenges for some students. Snow clearing sometimes requires students to park only in designated areas with limited spaces. “For Fall 2024, there are 63 spots in Upper Cedar which is for both townhouses and Maura residents to share, 70 spots in North 2 for commuters, and 276 spots in the Ross Street lot. Currently, 239 Resident Passes and 706 Commuter Passes have been sold,” said Matt Lechter, the Executive Director, of Housing & Residential Services.
“It’s impossible for students who live on campus. I have gotten tickets because of being stuck to park on the side of the road most of the time,” said Emma Smith a recent commuter. “They should either sell the same amount of parking tickets as spots combined in all lots or make more lots for students because there are more students than teachers. It is also unfair that the parking permits are not included in the tuition.”
For residents, parking permits cost one hundred and fifty dollars; for commuters, it’s seventy-five. Fitchburg State residents stress it is too small to allow students in townhouses and Maura buildings to share. “There is little to no parking for guests on the main campus. And so, I find that I am parking my car at Civic, a 15-minute walk to campus. However, I have my friend drive and come pick me up at night because I feel much safer this way. When we arrived back to the lot only five minutes later, it was found there was nowhere to park,” said Juliana Smith a guest of someone who lived in Maura.
With parking remaining a daily challenge for many students, the university is expected to review parking policies, though new plans have yet to be confirmed.