YSU official: Closing of deck will cause ‘inconvenience’

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Major renovations to the M-2 Lincoln Avenue parking deck at Youngstown State University will begin April 18, and the university is advising students and employees to make alternate parking plans, including using the parking lot at the Covelli Centre in downtown Youngstown.

The 40-year-old deck, which has 1,300 parking spaces, will reopen Aug. 29 for the start of the fall semester.

“We understand that this will cause some inconvenience to our students and employees,” said Danny O’Connell, YSU director of Support Services. “All in all, the construction schedule was designed to cause the least amount of disruption possible. Most of the work will take place over the summer when campus parking needs are less than during the regular academic year.”

O’Connell’s advice for motorists? Plan ahead.

During the closing, students, employees and visitors are encouraged to identify other campus lots in which to park, he said.

In addition, between April 18 and the end of spring semester May 13, individuals with valid YSU parking permits may park at the Covelli Centre on Front Street downtown. Shuttle buses will operate continuously between the Covelli Centre and Lincoln Avenue on the YSU campus between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The shuttles will drop off and pick up passengers in front of Moser Hall on Lincoln Avenue.

The university also has reserved several spaces in the M-24 surface parking lot along Fifth Avenue for handicapped parking. A shuttle will run continuously from the M-24 lot to the front of Cushwa Hall on Lincoln Avenue.

In addition, to accommodate the shuttles, street parking on the north side of Lincoln Avenue will be prohibited between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. from April 18 to May 13.

“Anyone who parks on campus needs to be aware of, and plan for, this closing,” O’Connell said. “We encourage everyone to identify other lots on campus and to be prepared to use the Covelli lot and shuttle service.”

The Lincoln parking deck, located at the corner of Lincoln and Fifth avenues, was constructed in 1971and has undergone various repairs over the past several years. The university is proceeding with a complete structural and cosmetic overhaul.

“Repairs to the deck are necessary for the safety of students and employees,” O’Connell said. “When the improvements are completed, the result will be a safer, more modern and attractive place to park for years to come.”

The project this summer is the first of two phases of work on the deck. The second and final phase will take place during summer 2012. Details on that phase will come at a later date.

In addition to improvements to the Lincoln Avenue deck, YSU Parking Services will complete construction this summer on a new, 126-space surface parking lot along Fifth Avenue next to the Beeghly College of Education and will add 160 parking spaces to the M-26 surface lot behind Smith Hall on the west side of Fifth Avenue.