This story is the second in a series examining parking on Marquette’s campus. The series runs on alternate Thursdays.

Mark Behar, a physician assistant at the Wisconsin Avenue Family Care Center, 1834 W. Wisconsin Ave., said available parking in area lots and on the street near the center has become increasingly miniscule during the past year.

“This year it’s the worst parking has ever been,” Behar said.

Parking spaces were lost with the construction and opening of the new School of Dentistry building, 1801 W. Wisconsin Ave., last year, Behar said. With the decreasing availability of parking in off-campus areas and the opening of new facilities on campus, Behar thinks Marquette needs more parking spaces to accommodate its new buildings.

“I don’t quite understand why the university isn’t providing for better parking,” he said.

But according to Todd Vicker, executive director of Auxiliary Services, parking availability on campus is not a problem.

“We’re tight,” Vicker said. “But I can’t say that we have a shortage.”

University lots “have never been at a hundred percent” capacity, he said.

Construction of a new parking structure, began early last month. Vicker said the new structure, will accommodate over 1,000 vehicles.

University permit rates for the current academic year are $272 per semester. Some students, however, are purchasing overnight permits from the city of Milwaukee.

Senior Brian Moore said he opted to buy a city overnight permit since the nearest university lot is two blocks from his off-campus house and the city permits are cheaper than university rates.

According to Cindy Angelos, parking financial manager in Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works, overnight street permits are available yearly for $44 or quarterly for $12.

There are guidelines regarding which side of the street cars may be parked on each night, Angelos said. Rules for the majority of city streets require people to alternate which side of the street they park on each night. Some streets, however, allow parking on either side from March 1 to Dec. 1.

Vicker said the availability of city overnight permits is not a concern of the university. He also feels university parking is a safer alternative to street parking, and just as cost effective.

“Statistics do demonstrate a history of more ‘crimes on vehicles’ for cars parked in the streets,” he said. “Comparisons to the cost of parking in downtown Milwaukee demonstrate we are below the market rates.”

Angelos said night street parking “should be used when there are no alternatives.”