By: Alexandra Camejo / Asst. News Director
As part of a long-standing agreement with the Youth Fair and Expo, several parking lots and garages across campus will be utilized or closed beginning March 7.
The Department of Parking and Transportation released a memorandum to the University Community referring to the upcoming changes that can be expected at Modesto Maidique Campus.
The memorandum noted that the University should “expect significant increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic,” and stated that FIU Police and Parking and Transportation would be working “to minimize the magnitude of this event.”
Lot 5, east of the Wertheim Performing Arts Center, will be closed as of March 7, and drivers are being encouraged to utilize the Blue Garage or Lot 4 as an alternate.
While the changes in parking and shared use of FIU MMC property have been active for years, several students still find it to be an annoyance.
“Parking at FIU is already so hectic that topping it off with people looking for parking for the fair is going to be such a pain,” said Nina Pascual, sophomore and Psychology major.
Both the Department of Parking and Transportation and FIU Police, according to the memorandum, will staff key locations around campus.
There will also be key check point posts set up in housing parking lots, where only drivers with housing stickers will be allowed to park.
The Gold and Blue Garages will also be used for Youth Fair parking, but the memorandum assures that the University’s departments will have staff patrolling vigilantly to address any safety issues.
While many find these changes to be an inconvenience, others understand that they come with the perks and discounts the Fair allots FIU students.
“Even though parking could be crazy, students are able to get major discounts on tickets, and I figure that it’s part of the deal with having a property together,” said Raphael Masp, junior and biology major.
The University has also assured that a staff member will be monitoring the traffic circle. The Youth Fair and Expo will open from March 17 to April 3.
Using the promotion code “FIUFair11,” the University community can purchase discount online tickets at http://tickets.fairexpo.com/FIU.
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