Limited parking availability is a common complaint among UTSA faculty and students. Many students and visitors complain there are not enough spots available and the lots are always full. To solve this problem, UTSA has begun constructing two new parking lots. In doing so, UTSA has razed a green space and cut down trees on campus.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to cut down more trees. Trees are very beneficial to the environment, so cutting them down doesn’t seem like the best move,” said Erin O’Brien, TA II of the communication department.

Some students however, welcome the creation of additional parking spaces.

“We definitely need more parking spaces,” Liana Trevino, freshman nursing major, said. “The reason many students are late to class is because they can’t find a spot.”

“I think there are plenty of trees around UTSA to make up for the ones that will be cut down,” Mario Spinelli, sophomore mechanical engineering major, said.

The new parking lots being constructed will create 400 new spaces for UTSA faculty and staff. The lot near Tobin Ave. will create 275 spaces for residents with “H” parking permits. The lot near the business building will add around 125 new spots for employees “A” parking and 24 hour reserved parking permits.

Combined, these projects will cost the university around $3 million to be funded through parking strategic reserves. More parking spots are required to compensate for UTSA’s growing population.

Although students can expect parts of the Ford and Ximenes lot to be closed for the summer, the additional parking lots are set to open by the first day of classes next fall.