CSUN RAISES PARKING FEES 50 PERCENT.

Byline: Lisa Mascaro Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - For the first time in a decade, parking fees have been hiked at CSUN - upped by 50 percent to help pay for new parking structures on the primarily commuter campus.

The monthly rate for students, faculty and staff jumped from $14 last year to $21 this fall, a pinch that cash-strapped students say is tough on the pocketbook.

``I was, like, Uhh!'' said junior transfer student Leanne Sammartano who was hit with an extra $32 charge on her already-purchased $63 parking pass for the fall semester.

The new price for a semester is now $95, she was told.

``If it goes toward the structure eventually, I don't mind it,'' she said. ``If there was a structure that would help.''

But sophomore Anita Contreras said students shouldn't have to foot the bill for the new structure.

``It's good that they're building the parking (structure) but we shouldn't be charged for it,'' said the radio/television/film major. ``It's their problem. They're admitting more students every year.''

Officials said the fee hike is needed to help finance planned new parking structures - one at the northwest corner of Vincennes Street and West University Drive that is scheduled to break ground next summer - that are expected to bring 2,500 more spaces to the school.

Ever since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake tore through the San Fernando Valley campus and left many buildings damaged, there's been a parking space shuffle on campus.

Lots once used for cars became home to temporary classrooms and offices, then were reverted back to parking once building repairs were made and temporary bungalows no longer needed.

This fall, the campus offers 10,000 spaces for about 3,000 employees and at least 29,000 students, officials said.

Plus, a new parking lot specifically for disabled drivers opens this fall with dozens of spaces next to University Hall.

But with enrollment on the rise since dipping to a low of 24,000 during the earthquake era - it is nearing the high of 30,700 reached more than a decade ago - officials said more parking room is needed.

``Clearly what's changed and what drove the decision to do the parking structure was the enrollment growth at the university,'' said CSUN spokesman John Chandler.

A parking study last year identified the need for additional space, and a student-employee committee in spring signed off on the higher rates, he said.

Because state funds wouldn't cover the building costs, California State University, Northridge, will use the higher fees to help finance the projects, he said.

The first multilevel structure is expected to add 1,000 spaces.

Construction plans for the second structure, proposed for the former lot north of Nordhoff Street, between West University Drive and Darby Avenue, have not been set.

Officials said they understand that campus can be crowded at the start of school, and hope students and staff can be patient through the crunch.

``The beginning of school is always a rush of students returning to the campus ... and people are always trying to find parking,'' Chandler said. ``Usually things start settling down in the next couple of weeks.''

COMING SATURDAY

An extra look at CSUN and the upcoming school year appears in the Daily News Sunday Preview edition, which will be available Saturday at selected locations around the region.

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