36.5 acres could lead to 200 new spaces for Pinnacle Campus, which could relieve some parking problems

In an attempt to relieve the Pinnacle Campus parking problems Austin Community College purchased 36.5 acres of land near the campus. The land will be the home to two more parking lots, creating an additional 200 parking spots for students.

In September 2008 city ordinance required that students stop parking in the unpaved areas around the parking lot at the campus.

These areas are now blocked off, leaving approximately 525 parking spaces to the 3,641 students currently enrolled at the campus. This deficit has left students with few options, and some have resorted to parking at nearby churches, businesses and in the wooded areas that are private property adjacent to the campus, at the risk of being towed or fined.

"It's impossible to find a parking spot after 8:45 a.m.," Pinnacle student Claire Davis said "You might as well not even try."

The school's solution to the inadequate parking is a shuttle service, which runs during the day, transporting students from Oak Hill Plaza to the Pinnacle Campus every 20 minutes.

"It works very nicely," said Judy Van Cleve, Pinnacle Campus Manager, to alleviate "a problem which most college campuses deal with." The shuttles have become heavily used, with a reported 2,221 students having taken them Monday through Thursday on the first week of classes.

The system, however, has its drawbacks. This service comes at an expense to the college, and as a school that attracts a diverse group of students the shuttle is not the best solution for those who cannot afford to plan their days around it. Those who plan to park and ride must still arrive early to ensure their place in line, or risk being left waiting an additional 20 minutes for the next scheduled shuttle.

This development will be a relief to faculty and student alike. Completion is expected in August of 2010. "It has been challenging," says ACC police officer Alex Luce, "but [the] ACC Police Department is here to keep things flowing as smoothly as possible."