New Construction
To say the parking situation is a mess right now is an understatement. Currently, only juniors and seniors are able to park on campus, yet many students are having difficulty finding a spot. However, relief is right around the corner.
With construction underway, the new parking lot, located behind the softball fields, will add an additional 350 parking spaces. This much-needed addition will not only alleviate the panic of students currently on campus but also open up parking to sophomores who are old enough to drive.
Originally, the new lot was scheduled to open in late December or early January, but the date appears to be changing. “Construction is moving faster than anticipated,” said Associate Principal Mason Whitfield. ‘We were anticipating an after Christmas or after December kind of opening [but] we think it could be closer to mid-December, late November.”
In contrast, the parking situation “hasn’t really affected me so far,” said Ella Swinford, a senior at LTHS. Swinford gets to school between 7:50 and 8:00 every morning, which is earlier than most students. Regarding the new parking lot, she believes that this new parking lot will ensure less panic and the need to get to school early for a parking spot.
“I think it’s helpful to expand parking,” stated Riley Gormley, LTHS junior. With parking being a large anxiety point, the new parking situation will alleviate most of that anxiety. When asked about the comparison between the parking situation this year to last year “Every year has been pretty backed up.”
Dents and Damages
Another common parking concern among students is car damage. “There is a fear in parking, because you have no clue what will happen to your car,” said Gormley. Lake Travis began ticketing for cars on Monday, August 26th, hoping that the dents and damages would decrease if more cars are ticketed. However, this hasn’t relieved the worries of many students, especially Gormley: “I don’t want to think about how much money I’m putting down the drain.”
Fortunately, students have resources on campus if their car is damaged in the parking lot. “[If] there is no other party present, then the student should come in and contact an Associate Principal or the Lake Travis Police,” Whitfield said. “You can always reach out to the assistant principals.”
Students are generally finding it more difficult than in previous years to adjust to the limited parking situation. This will change in the coming months as construction comes to a close, but in the current conditions, it is recommended that students have increased awareness of themselves and their surroundings while driving in the parking lots.
