Chapman faces increasing issues regarding parking and missing shuttle services

As another school year begins, the repetitive yet stagnant issue of a lack of parking spaces available to students and staff continues to persist and disrupt efficiency within student life. 

Dylan Glover, a senior communications major, expressed frustrations about the lack of parking. 

“I have learned to leave incredibly early for class in order to score a space within the parking structures,” Glover said. “Yet I still struggle with it every day and have waited 30 minutes before finding parking.”

Additionally, another issue that Glover brought up is that although there may be many parking spaces along the streets bordering the university, students are at high risk of obtaining parking tickets. These tickets can go up to $65 and double up in fines if not paid in time. 

Another factor that has changed this year are the shuttle routes.

“There are now five different routes that run on continuous loops starting at Schmid Gate,” Dean Jerry Price stated in his email last Monday, Sept. 2. “If you live on campus without a car and need something at the grocery store or pharmacy, you can take advantage of the weekend shuttle to our off-campus Chapman apartments (which) will make a stop upon request at Ralph’s. Walgreens is on that same corner across the street.”

Sophomore Sophie Cook, a resident of Chapman Grand said . 

“My friends have had average experiences with the shuttle routes,” Cook said. “Yet they do wish there was a direct route from campus to Chapman Grand.”

Although there has been a lot of circulation around these issues among students, there have seldom been complaints to the Parking and Transportation Services Office. 

Sheryl Boyd, the assistant director of parking and transportation services, through an email correspondence comments on their office receiving feedback. 

“We have not received any feedback regarding parking,” Boyd said. “There is definitely more parking available this semester compared to all of last year. The top levels of Jim Miller and the West Campus Structure are empty every day and that was not the case last year.”

The Office of Parking and Transportation wants students to express feedback if necessary and to reach out if help is required. “I welcome feedback and hope students will let me know when there are issues,” added Boyd. “(It is) important for students to know all their parking options, follow posted signage redirecting to overflow parking and allow time to navigate through the community.”

Boyd also stated that students looking to provide feedback regarding the shuttle services can do so through the Passio Go! shuttle tracking app. Remember to provide contact information for follow-up, or text BusBuzz using the numbers posted in each shuttle. Students can also email transportation@chapman.edu with any issues. 

Whether parking has gotten worse or better is difficult to ascertain completely. Nevertheless, student admissions have reached higher levels in the past years and can be seen within Chapman’s new addition of a new housing building, the Chapman Court. 

This leaves the question regarding future years and if Chapman’s admission numbers further begin to grow, what changes will the University need to make in order to accommodate the needs of the students and staff.