Reinstatement of parking fees, following the depletion of federal funds, spurs campus adjustments and concerns among students.
By Star Eisenberg, Editor-in-Chief
Los Angeles Valley College campus sheriffs driving through campus during the rainstorm on Monday, February 5, 2024.
(Astrid Cortez | Valley Star)
Valley College will now require students to purchase a $20 parking permit or a $2 daily pass in the spring semester, a change in policy from the temporary pause since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valley is providing a two-week grace period from Feb. 5 to Feb. 19 before issuing citations. Students can purchase parking permits from the Business Office or obtain daily permits at parking lot kiosks. Student citations are $35 per violation. Campus officials suggest for students to read the bottom of the parking stall to avoid a penalty.
“Valley College has had parking fees for decades,” said President Barry Gribbons. “The parking fees were suspended in the early days of the pandemic, and that was with the benefit of the federal stimulus money that the college received. That money, of course, was only for a limited time period, which has ended.”
Gribbons said before the semester started, students received an email containing details about parking fees and bus passes.
The Feb. 3 email entitled “Welcome to LAVC's Spring Semester 2024” contained information about parking regulations, including permit requirements, pricing, and a grace period. It also mentions the option for free Metro GoPasses for public transportation.
“We work with Metro to provide free passes to all of our students,” said Gribbons. “This enables students to ride on any Metro bus or rail line for the rest of the calendar year. This is good for any location, not just coming to and from Valley College, but students who receive this Metro pass can ride Metro for free anywhere. It’s a great resource for students.”
The change comes on the heels of stricter enforcement of parking regulations, following faculty complaints that led to new ticketing policies last semester. During that time, Valley sheriffs began issuing parking citations to students parked in restricted areas, including faculty spaces, illegal zones, or electric vehicle spots without a charging receipt.
“There's barely any parking right now,” said Britney De Leon, a first year political science major. “There's one parking structure with four levels, but the lots still get really, really packed.”
Students with valid parking permits can park in the Parking Structure (2-4 floors and Parking Lots A, B, D, E, F, G, and the Coldwater Canyon Extension. Daily parking permits are valid for any student lot, including Lots A, B, C, D, E, and G, Coldwater Extension, and the 2nd-4th floors of the parking structure, and are only valid on the date of purchase, according to Valley’s website.
“Anticipate crowds and heavy traffic, especially during the first week,” says Valley Senior Accounting Tech Nick Tekie. “It’s best to arrive early and remember to display your parking permit.”