Get your overcompensating trucks, Ford Mustangs, precarious Jeeps and extremely-old, oh-god-please-start cars ready. UTSA has just opened a new off-roading race track along UTSA Boulevard. The news finally provides an answer as to what has been going on with the piles of dirt and construction equipment that UTSA students have seen for months on their commute to campus.
“This has been in the works for a while now—two years in fact.” Campus Services representative Tye Oata said. “We’re a commuter campus, so we really wanted to learn how to best serve students as they drive into Main Campus.”
The track starts on UTSA Boulevard near the Broadstone Ranch Apartments and stems all the way down to the UTSA Boulevard/Babcock Road intersection. Along the track, racers will be able to take in views such as student apartments through clouds of dirt, a bridge that looks interesting (but won’t be usable until after you’ve graduated) and UTSA students dodging construction equipment and cars as they walk to class.
“With this park, we’re giving both driver and walker a new sense of adrenaline and adventure on a college campus,” Oata said.
J.P. Wrangler, a senior completing his final semester at UTSA, is amongst those who must walk to Main Campus every day.
“I can’t afford a parking permit, so I walk from my apartment. I thought I wouldn’t be able to use the off-roading track, but we (fellow walkers) make it work,” Wrangler said. “There’s a lot of split decisions to make, close calls, mud — it makes my 10-15 minute walk feel like I’m real life Frogger.”
Worried you’ll miss the action if you take one of the apartment shuttles? No worries, you’ll be able to enjoy the race track too. In true Ms. Frizzle-style, there will be two new race track designated shuttles.
Foar Bifor, UTSA student and avid shuttle rider, shared her perspective on the new race track. “I mean, the shuttle experience can already be kind of adrenaline-inducing with a splash of fear depending on your driver, but at least the track will give a legitimate reason for it to be that way now,” Bifor said.
The track is currently open Monday-Friday during UTSA high traffic hours (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) or better known as any time to make your life a little more inconvenient. There is no UTSA ID required or fee to enter. The track is open to all San Antonio drivers—whether they like it or not.
As for Campus Services’ next project, Oata gave something new to look forward to: “Every morning we’ll be holding a parking spot scavenger hunt. We’re sure everyone will love it.”
