“Jenny Lazo gets to school at 7:30 a.m. to attend a 9 a.m. class. Despite her efforts, she still struggles with getting there on time.“There is never any parking. I have to circle that parking lot so many times,” said Lazo, a 21-year-old InterAmerican Campus student. “And by the time, you arrive at the gate, the guard tells you that there are no more spots, to keep going around the block. I always end up being late. “Lazo’s problem is a common theme across Miami Dade College’s eight campuses and one outreach center. There is a higher demand for parking spaces than available parking spots.For fall 2010, the College reported 117,317 enrolled students and 16,424 parking spaces available college-wide, according to David M. Kaiser, the College’s
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At Kendall Campus many commuters who can’t find parking are forced to improvise— parking on the grass. Students at various campuses said the situation can get so frustrating that sometimes they give up and pay for parking in private lots. Wolfson Campus parking attendant Nancy Jimenez said she routinely feels the heat associated with the lack of parking space. “it’s a headache,” Jimenez said. “I know its frustrating for them, but its frustrating for me too. I’m the one that has to tell them that there is no more space in the lot. Imagine, people get rude and angry.”College Provost Rolando Montoya says parking is a national problem at many institutions.“Yes, we have a parking problem,” Montoya said. “This is why we are building several facilities at different campuses.”Hialeah Campus will commence construction of a parking garage that will accommodate 900 parking spots. The project is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2012, according to Vice Provost Patrick Rebull.“At our Wolfson Campus we are just now starting the design effort for a new parking garage to be located adjacent to the New World; it will accommodate 482 new parking spaces.Its expected to be completed by the end of 2012,” Rebull said. “We will also be paving the currently vacant parcel of property just south of NE 3rd St. and east of NE 2nd Ave. to provide 74 new parking spaces. This additional parking lot will be completed prior to the Book Fair beginning on Nov.
At Kendall Campus many commuters who can’t find parking are forced to improvise— parking on the grass. Students at various campuses said the situation can get so frustrating that sometimes they give up and pay for parking in private lots. Wolfson Campus parking attendant Nancy Jimenez said she routinely feels the heat associated with the lack of parking space. “it’s a headache,” Jimenez said. “I know its frustrating for them, but its frustrating for me too. I’m the one that has to tell them that there is no more space in the lot. Imagine, people get rude and angry.”College Provost Rolando Montoya says parking is a national problem at many institutions.“Yes, we have a parking problem,” Montoya said. “This is why we are building several facilities at different campuses.”Hialeah Campus will commence construction of a parking garage that will accommodate 900 parking spots. The project is expected to be completed prior to the end of 2012, according to Vice Provost Patrick Rebull.“At our Wolfson Campus we are just now starting the design effort for a new parking garage to be located adjacent to the New World; it will accommodate 482 new parking spaces.Its expected to be completed by the end of 2012,” Rebull said. “We will also be paving the currently vacant parcel of property just south of NE 3rd St. and east of NE 2nd Ave. to provide 74 new parking spaces. This additional parking lot will be completed prior to the Book Fair beginning on Nov.