Editor:
Even though preparations for the 2002 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games will result in a temporary shortage of parking on main campus, we must keep in mind that the Games will also benefit the students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of Utah for many years to come.
In addition to providing a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase to the world what a wonderful institution the U is, the university’s involvement in the Games has also helped make possible many enhancements to the campus.
Improvements include the construction of the Heritage Commons student residential area at Fort Douglas, the renovation and expansion of Rice-Eccles Stadium and the extension of TRAX light rail service to the university.
On Dec. 15, a new era of transportation will be ushered in when the TRAX university line to Rice-Eccles Stadium begins service. It will greatly enhance transit service to campus.
TRAX will operate from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays.
U campus shuttle buses from the stadium station will get people where they need to go on campus.
The hours of operation of the campus shuttle system are being expanded to insure that convenient connecting service is available from TRAX.
University students and employees ride UTA buses and TRAX free with their U identification card.
Although we are encouraging everyone to commute to campus via UTA or in a carpool, we are also providing temporary overflow parking.
We have made arrangements to replace almost all of the spaces that the Salt Lake Organizing Committee will be taking over beginning Nov. 26 through the end of Fall Semester.
Parking will be allowed along the sides of some campus roadways, and Salt Lake City has given us permission to park along Guardsman Way.
We will also be providing overflow parking in January and March of 2002.
Our plans include shuttle service to remote parking lots and parking along campus roadways. More details will be forthcoming.
Norm Chambers, Director, Auxiliary Services