Parking Causing Headaches on UTC Campus

Finding a parking spot at UTC is tough and students say they're spending more time searching for one than they should have to.

"It's absolutely horrible. I have to leave about 2 hours before class just to drive around and find a parking spot. And last minute I'll have to park just wherever I can find parking and I come back half the time to find a parking ticket," said Erica Moyer.

"I actually have reserve parking. And sometimes I'll get to my lot and there's just no parking in there," Joshua Williams told us.

Sophomores Moyer and  Williams have had trouble finding spots on campus- but the school says, right now, that's to be expected.

"We do have a record enrollment again this year and we have lost a major parking lot this year when we began construction on the new library," said Chuck Cantrell.

And while finding parking may be difficult,  Cantrell, with UTC, says they have another option for students.

"There is lots of parking at Engle Stadium that we run a CARTA shuttle from the stadium. We have 3 buses running around all the time from early in the morning til around 5:30 when most classes are over," Cantrell said.

But taking the shuttle and not getting the prime parking they expected after buying expensive parking passes doesn't sit well with everyone.

"I would probably do that but honestly it still annoys me a little bit that I've paid to be able to park right here and walk 5 minutes to class and you can't do it," Moyer said.

 "I probably wouldn't do that because that would just make it worse. Just because, then you have to plan on getting to the bus catching the bus and I'd rather not be late for class," said Williams.

But parking isn't just a an issue at UTC. Today we found a makeshift lot at Chattanooga State. It's a grass field, roped off and used as a parking lot in the afternoon when the campus fills up.