After discussing a $3-million, 600-slot expansion of student stadium parking – a joint effort with the Department of Public Safety – the Inter-Residence Hall Association sent its parking report back into committee for a final recommendation.

IRHA met with Capt. Doug Houghton, DPS program manager, at last Thursday’s meeting to discuss possible remedies for the parking situation. The recommendation for more student parking at Jack Trice Stadium stems from a DPS-sponsored study of 14 campus parking lots last year.

“The stadium project, more than anything, would solve the campus parking problem,” Houghton said.

“We can build more spaces faster and cheaper at the stadium.”

The project also would include increased lighting and an added stop on the CyRide Orange Route to serve the additional spaces, which could be completed by next summer.

The ISU Athletic Department is willing to contribute 25 percent of the total cost in exchange for increased space on game days, and the Government of the Student Body funding has put the stadium project on the “fast track,” Houghton said.

IRHA will consider the project along with several other options as the committee formulates its final recommendation, said Jennifer Larson, head of the parking committee and RCA president.

“[IRHA] had a few questions, and they wanted a more formalized, specific list,” she said.

The new report will be completed after Thanksgiving break, Larson said.

The committee will weigh the stadium parking against other proposed solutions, such as expanding Lot 60, replacing some 15-minute loading zones with two-hour visitor parking spaces and eliminating student government and staff parking spaces.

Meanwhile, Houghton said he encouraged students who no longer use their parking permits to return them to DPS. Returned permits are reimbursed for the remaining portion of the semester.

DPS determines when to sell additional parking permits by counting empty spaces at 3 a.m. If a constant number of spots remain open, more permits are issued, Houghton said.

This results in more permits being issued than actual spots available on campus, but Houghton said many students leave during the semester and do not turn in their permits.

“I live in fear that between Thanksgiving and Christmas, all the cars with permits will come back,” he said.

“Thankfully, so far that’s never happened.”

If there are no available slots to park in the lot assigned to a student’s vehicle, Houghton recommended he or she park in the least offensive spot and immediately call DPS.