The Department of Parking and Transit Services has not only made several improvements to the Mississippi State University campus over the summer, but it also has significant plans for future projects.
MSU President Mark Keenum signed off on the new parking policy July 11.
One item in particular marks a notable change in the way cars are required to be parked.
Official Policy 95.501.C.3.v. states, “No individual . . . shall park any motor vehicle or motorcycle on campus by parking in a manner that hides your license plate from being visible from the primary drive lane.”
Jeremiah Dumas, the director of Parking and Transit Services, explained the rationale behind the decision. MSU plans to update its technology to more efficiently track who is on campus, he said. One project will install cameras near entrances to campus, which will read the license plate of each vehicle making its way into MSU. The upcoming technology, which necessitates the new parking policy, will be one in which parking and transit employees will drive through parking lots. As they patrol, they will monitor each license plate. Because many vehicles are not furnished with plates on their fronts, the system will be unable to decipher backed-in cars.
However, there is no need to be concerned about hefty ticket fees from this new regulation. Dumas made it clear the university is still in an “educational phase.” No one will be fined for backing into a space in the near future.
One of the most visible changes in the parking lots of MSU is the parking counter near Fresh Food Company on the south side of campus. Dumas expressed this device is “beta testing” for another planned parking system. Specially designed speed bumps count vehicles as they enter and exit the lot. An electronic sign displays a count of empty spaces available.
For now, the Commuter West lot across from Fresh Food Company is the only area overseen by this system.
“You need controlled ingress and egress,” explained Dumas.
With only one entrance and exit, this lot provides a simpler setup than other locations. Another reason this Commuter West lot was selected according to Dumas is because students frequently have to spend a significant amount of time looking for a parking space in this lot, despite there not being any available.
One major project Dumas mentioned is a 500-car parking garage scheduled to be built on the north side of campus. It would be built into the hill between Deavenport Hall and Howell Hall.
Alex Heath, a junior with a major in business information systems, said he was glad about the planned parking garage.
“We need more parking, so that’s something that would be appreciated,” Heath said. “They just need to get more parking in general.”
Heath said he knew of many individuals who were ticketed for parking on the grass, an action he said was their only option with the lack of sufficient parking on campus.
More information on the parking policy at MSU can be found at www.policies/msstate.edu.