Washtenaw Comm College plans to build parking deck

Washtenaw Community College is taking a three-pronged approach to solving its parking problem, and the biggest answer could be the college’s first parking deck.The college has experienced a huge influx of new students this year, creating a parking shortage during peak hours in the middle of the week. Parking has traditionally been served by surface parking lots. The college’s Board of Regents is expected to approve plans for a 600-car parking deck next week.”There are several locations on campus that are possible,” says Janet Hawkins, director of the public relations and marketing for Washtenaw Community College.The most likely is located south of the College’s Campus Green, between the Crane Liberal Arts and Science Building and the Morris Lawrence Building. The $12.5 million project would be three levels high and connected to Parking Lot #7 and #1. Construction could begin as soon as next summer and be finished by fall of 2011.The college is also extending its shuttle service from a large parking lot near Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson Stadium. The new service would be open to staff, students and faculty every 15 minutes between 6:45 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.The college is also offering discounted AATA bus passes. The $10 pass will let students, staff and faculty ride AATA buses any where and any time between January and April.Source: Janet Hawkins, director of the public relations and marketing for Washtenaw Community CollegeWriter: Jon Zemke