Driving through Ohio State is becoming increasingly difficult for commuters or visitors.
Two incidents last week forced Transportation and Parking Services into emergency meetings to remedy the problems.
On Jan. 15 cars were held up in a parking garage on 10th Avenue and Cannon Drive for nearly two hours, with no explanation as to why no one was moving.
“It was bumper-to-bumper from the first all the way to the ninth floor,” said Edward James, a freelance stenographer who was on campus taking a deposition.
Sitting in a line of cars for such a long time caused some people to panic. A few cars did not have enough gasoline to idle for two hours, but turning off the engine would have cut off the heat — not a choice in 10 degree weather.
Motorists also had to worry about the amount of carbon dioxide collecting in the closed structure.
“We didn’t know what to do,” James said. “We were completely at their mercy.”
Cars were let out through a second key card gate that was opened after reports of the back-up. Motorists were released free of charge.
According to the department of Transportation and Parking, this was not the first problem in that garage. There was a consultant in the cashier’s booth that day observing the pattern and trying to figure out the problems.
Before the Jan. 15 parking incident, 45 minutes was the longest reported wait.
The garage is restricted to visitors and patients until 2 p.m, but Sarah Blouch, director of Transportation and Parking, does not believe the rules are being adhered to.
“We believe there may be some abuse going on,” Blouch said. “Students and faculty who should not be there are leaving their cars there all day.”
Transportation and Parking has yet to get to the root of the problem, but traffic patterns on 10th Avenue and times of hospital shift changes are believed to be two of the main causes.
“We are meeting with the hospital director to try and isolate the problem,” Blouch said.
While Transportation and Parking is exerting its best effort to speed up the garage’s exiting traffic, it is urging motorists to slow down on another area of campus — Woody Hayes Drive.
Last week a pedestrian was struck by an automobile near the construction area of the Woody Hayes bridge.
“We have a real serious problem over there,” Blouch said.
Construction on the Lane Avenue bridge has more drivers detouring through campus, but slow-moving buses and students not crossing in designated areas are frustrating for motorists.
“Woody Hayes is super-crowded now because of the construction,” said Justin Grimm, a senior in agriculture construction management, who walks to class on Woody Hayes.
Grimm said the backup affects the quality of driving.
“Cars are more impatient,” he said.
Transportation and Parking has requested more police during the peak hours to make sure both pedestrians and motorists are following the guidelines and posted signs.
