Fighting to find a parking place at De Anza is a perplexing task. Vehicles cramming into narrow parking stalls cause traffic nightmares. Parking larger vehicles is difficult in the stingy slots. The rapidly growing population has increased traffic, creating a need for more parking. With Measure E construction on the loom, parking will become more limited, as heavy equipment and modular buildings will occupy much of the parking area. Students will need alternative methods to commute to De Anza and to park.

Minimizing the number of vehicles coming to campus would also improve the lives of De Anza students.

La Voz suggests that the De Anza administration consider:

l Coordinating a carpool database for students via the De Anza Web site.

l Encouraging students to use busses, bicycles and walking, perhaps by arranging discount bus passes and other incentives (VTA will be increasing the number of bus lines in April.)

l Creating at least a second parking level over one of the current open lots during the initial construction efforts.

l Using parking income (from parking permits) to create additional parking spaces.

l Introducing students to the ALTRANS program that offers suggestions on both environmentally safe and alternative transportation methods.

l Using parking permit income to improve the conditions of the parking lot, including adding more lights to make them safer at night.

“Purchase of a parking permit is not a guarantee of an available space,” states the De Anza Web site. That’s true today, and it will be continue to be true when construction starts.