Seton Hill University (SHU) has been going through a series of adjustments and changes this year to improve the campus for students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors. Among some of the changes is SHU’s newest project of construction on the road to St. Mary’s Hall. However, there have been some concerns about limited parking at St. Mary’s Hall and the safety of cars and pedestrians around that area.
Parking concerns seem to be everywhere around campus. There never seem to be enough spaces for resident students to park their cars, and commuters have trouble finding available spots in time to make it to their classes. The concern at St. Mary’s Hall is that there are only 19 legal parking spots and currently 28 cars taking up that space.
By Anne Williams
Contributer
Seton Hill University (SHU) has been going through a series of adjustments and changes this year to improve the campus for students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors. Among some of the changes is SHU’s newest project of construction on the road to St. Mary’s Hall. However, there have been some concerns about limited parking at St. Mary’s Hall and the safety of cars and pedestrians around that area.
Parking concerns seem to be everywhere around campus. There never seem to be enough spaces for resident students to park their cars, and commuters have trouble finding available spots in time to make it to their classes. The concern at St. Mary’s Hall is that there are only 19 legal parking spots and currently 28 cars taking up that space. These spaces are taken by staff working at St. Mary’s, those working in the Administration building, staff from the theater department, students, and construction workers.
Dance classes for young children are also held at St. Mary’s, and cars line the road with parents waiting to drop off and pick up their kids. Often, the young children dart out from between parked cars, which is an accident waiting to happen. The safety of other pedestrians is at risk too. There is no sidewalk to provide safe access for students, staff, or visitors and loose gravel covering the road is extremely dangerous to anyone walking up and down the hill several times a day.
Students have expressed feelings of apprehension about the walk to St. Mary’s. Chelsea Bloam, a sophomore, said that “cars do not always stop at the stop sign for you and now that there is a three way stop, it’s confusing for drivers to know when to go.” Since the shuttle doesn’t go to St. Mary’s, students have no other option but to walk. The construction of wooden stairs will provide a measure of safety but for now, progress seems slow.
Construction vehicles have also been known to block the roads near St. Mary’s as they prepare more parking spaces and work on roads around that area. Sometimes pedestrian and vehicular safety is compromised due to the trucks and cars attempting to enter and leave the parking lots. Many student drivers have noticed the new road signs on Seton Hill Dr. Some worries have been expressed by the faculty and staff that the crosswalks on the main drive are not respected.
There has also been damage done to cars around St. Mary’s Hall, such as body damage, nails in tires, two broken tie rods, and near misses of pedestrians trying to cross the road. Charmaine Strong, the dean of student services, said that “the stop signs should never be taken down and that speed bumps might be a significant addition on the hill.”
To solve some of the parking issues, some recommendations have been made by staff, employees, and professional associations.
Suggestions have been made to expand D lot to accommodate residents, have B and C lots for faculty, staff and employees only, reserve the 19 St. Mary’s spaces for visitors, parents, and staff who work in that building, and reserve A lot, Caritas Christi, and the Grotto for commuter students.
Lauren Dorsch, a junior, said, “I think it will benefit commuter students to have available spaces in A Lot so they can make it to classes on time.”
