TR students need specific stamp for parking garage

By Joshua Knopp/managing editor

The TR Campus parking garage is for TR Campus only.

This semester, students must have not only a TCC parking pass but a specific “TRC” stamp that verifies they indeed have classes on TR Campus to park in the garage.

The garage lacks the space to accommodate both TR students and others who need to be on the campus for whatever reason, a campus official said.

“We cap classes by parking per hour,” said Lt. Toni Owens of the TR Campus police. “If you come in and you’re from another campus, you’re taking the spot of a paying TR student.”

Owens said while other campuses also have a finite amount of space, their need to reserve the close spots for students attending classes isn’t as dire because the overflow lots aren’t as far away. TR Campus’ overflow parking lot is a block west on Peach Street and a block north on Mills.

“Their overflow is right next to their parking area, so there are students there who will be able to park without being late for class,” Owens said about the other campuses.

If students were relying on a free downtown space, they aren’t entirely without help, Owens said. They can still park in the TR overflow lot.

The requirement of a stamp instead of just a permit could cause a problem for students like Susan Tamargo, who got a permit on NE Campus, where she attends Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. That puts her two blocks away from her classes Tuesdays and Thursdays until she gets her stamp.

“I think it [the garage] is important because of the proximity,” she said. “If you get stuck in the overflow lot, you’re probably spending 10 minutes walking.”

Tamargo said, in lieu of a closer overflow lot, the campus could do something to help students.

“If the garage is full, you can’t tell from the street,” she said. “If they could send someone to put up a sign or something.”

The core problem seems to be that, even without students from other campuses, TR doesn’t have enough space as student Kalen Rutherford would attest.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays, the garage is filled at 9:25,” he said. “I just think that TR is getting bigger. More people are noticing that TR is the newest and, no offense to any of the other campuses, best campus TCC has to offer.”

Fortunately, Rutherford doesn’t mind the walk.

“At least two days out of the week, I’m getting exercise,” he said.