TCU will face more “growing pains” while expanding parking lots

By Zahra Ahmad, Staff Writer

Published Mar 7, 2024

TCU campus map shows current parking lots. (Photo courtesy of www.maps.tcu.edu)

TCU is working to expand its existing parking lots and build new ones in the coming two years, said Adrian Andrews, the assistant vice chancellor of public safety. The university is in the process of narrowing down which construction company they will work with, Andrews said. They are selecting from a pool of 11 potential companies to expand the campus, including parking lots. The companies are some of the biggest names in school construction development. The final decision and plan will not be out until May or late summer. But by then, the marketing and communications offices will inform the TCU community of specific plans via their online platforms, Andrews said. “I’ve looked at some of these plans we’re looking at, every plan of all the companies in the competition have at least one major parking lot on the east side of campus,” he said.

Sacrificing now for a better future

Although there are plans to add parking to the east side of campus where there is the least amount of parking available, he said TCU will continue to experience “growing pains.” “Let’s say that we’re going to take a parking lot, that’s currently open with 400 spaces for example. If we take that offline to build a 1000-space parking garage on it, that’s going to take 400 spaces away for another 18 months or two years. These are what we call growing pains,” said Andrews. “It’s going to take more spots away before we get the spots that we need,” he said.

Construction on Berry Street, 2019. (Riane Cleveland)

Andrews emphasized that parking lots three and four have open spots most of the time, but they may not be close to one’s destination. He encouraged students to plan ahead and, if necessary, to use the TCU shuttle service that runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Routes begin at lot four and run in opposite directions around campus on University and Stadium Drives. TCU will also be taking over more space along Berry Street. “They’re going to transform it into something beautiful, making walking even more attractive,” Andrews said. The university will continue with the tier system, even when the new parking is completed. Students can expect to see some increase in reserved permit prices. “If the parking lot is covered and right across the street from where you’re going to be, you should pay more.” said Andrews.