Parking Lot 705 PSA
Justin Siewierski
Editor-In-Chief
js2010@plymouth.edu
On-campus residents are being urged to use the walking path that connects lot 705 to Langdon Woods. Due to the building of Merrill Place, many students who have purchased ResNorth parking passes have been forced to park in lot 705. Walking to and from lot 705 on Route 3, rather than the designated path, can be extremely dangerous.
Students are concerned that the path may not be safe, or that it won’t be properly maintained. “The walkway from Lot 705 to Langdon Woods will be plowed and treated with sand and salt, the same as all other walkways on campus,” said Ellen Shippee, director of Physical Plant. “We are also in the process of purchasing a sidewalk plow with a sander attachment to assist with improved efficiencies.”
Many students have already begun to use Route 3 as their main source of travel to and from lot 705. Shippee’s main concern with this is that “there is no sidewalk, the road is narrow and visibility is limited.” This will become an even bigger factor this winter.
Regarding the safety of the path, Steve Temperino, Director of Public Safety and Emergency Planning, stated that “there have been no incidents reported to date.”
“We do know that people aren’t comfortable walking on that path. The path is lit, and was built wide enough so that a plow can move through there,” Temperino said. “The shuttle stop was put into place at lot 705 to encourage students not to walk up Route 3.”
He also encouraged students to use one of the University’s “safe walk” programs. “The UPD-led safe walk program is 24 hours a day, and will transport you to where you need to be, whether you’re on or off campus,” he said. He also mentioned that there is a safe walk club run by students on campus, where they will walk you to where you need to be.
Students who ha ve purchased ResNorth parking passes are eligible to “trade in,” or downgrade, their passes if they so choose. “We have had students who decided that they don’t like parking in the ResNorth spaces, and have made the choice to park in the ice arena lot instead,” said Temperino. “We’ve been able to make the exchange, and it’s quite easy, especially if students don’t feel like the ResNorth pass is fulfilling their needs.”
Lot 705 is a temporary lot, not owned by the University. Plymouth State is leasing the open space from The Common Man, which is located across the street. The construction of Merrill Place took 50 faculty/staff parking spaces on campus, which in turn had an effect on student parking.
If there is ever an incident regarding lot 705 or the connector path, the following lines can be reached:
Police Communications Emergency: 603-536-1626
PSU Alert Line: (603) 535-3535
University Police Escorts: (603) 535-2330