As the fall semester is about to begin, SIU-Carbondale is kicking off the first major campus construction project in about 10 years with the Tedrick Welcome Center.
Construction has closed Parking Lot 11, the red decal student commuter lot east of the Student Center. It will reopen as a commuter lot when construction is completed.
School officials say students who have disabilities and need accommodations, including parking accommodations, should reach out to the Office for Access and Accommodations.
They say during the first two weeks of classes, Lot 13, east of the Student Center, will temporarily be free. It is a paid lot the rest of the year but free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. Lot 3 across Highway 51, which is accessible from East Grand Avenue and Washington Street, is also an option and next to the walking bridge. The city of Carbondale also maintains parking near that lot.
University leaders say they understand available spots may not be as close to a building entrance as someone would like, but many are within a 10-minute walk.
A 2023 study by Walker Consultants found that we have ample parking on campus, with an estimated 7,000 vacant parking spaces during peak hours on a typical busy day; only 43% of red decal spaces were occupied.
