New Memorial University parking lot aims to offset lost spots

Grass in being torn up from a lot on Elizabeth Avenue in St. John's to make room for parking spaces at Memorial University to fill void for lost spots.

A heavily-used parking lot is being cleared this summer to accommodate the construction of a brand new core sciences building, meaning there are 165 fewer parking spaces.

• Parking lot at MUN to be replaced by new science building

With roughly 19,000 set to attend Memorial's St. John's campus in the fall and winter semesters, students worry the 4,000 parking spots won't be enough.

"Students are saying that they're really concerned about parking because if they don't necessarily have a parking spot they then are paying extra fees for parking, which aren't always things that students can afford," said Leah Robertson, director of advocacy with the student union.

"Thats something we want to mitigate."

But for the university, the issue is more about changing the way people get to the university all together.

Dave Sorensen, with Memorial, the new science building takes priority over accomodating parking, but the university is looking at other possible solutions for the cramped parking situation.

"We have plans to change people's behaviour when it comes to driving to campus actually, and that's a difficult thing," said Sorensen.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is primarily a driving culture, most of the people that come to campus don't carpool, they drive themselves."

The university has a transpit and parking solutions committee looking at other ways students and faculty can get to campus and leave the car at home.

The new parking lot is scheduled to be completed by September.