Georgia State’s T-Deck will gain two new exit lanes, according to Georgia State Parking Auxiliary and Support Services.
The main access ramp, or spiral helix to T-Deck’s upper floors, will be renovated to improve traffic flow. While it is closed for repairs, Budget and Permit Card pay-on-exit lanes were added to the parking structure, according to the university’s Parking and Support Services.
Wayne Reed, assistant vice president for Auxiliary and Support Services, said the spiral helix renovation project will cost $4 million.
He said the changes in payment lanes is due to the deck’s limited means of entry.
“The traffic flow during peak periods on T-Deck are less than desirable,” Reed said.
Drivers using cash, credit or PantherCash also have to use the cashier lane when exiting T-Deck, and Budget Cards must have a balance of $3.50 per park, according to Parking and Support Services.
Reed said students will notice altered traffic flow patterns on levels 3 through 7 designed to accommodate drivers without using the main access ramp. Reed also said parking level 1 has been changed to help T-Deck users.
“Changes were made on the first level to keep three exit lanes during the time the spiral helix remains closed,” he said.
Brittanie Rostamy, Georgia State third-year law student, is new to T-Deck parking but thinks other drivers might not be happy with the changes.
“I don’t know about all the changes, but I can imagine other people might be confused,” she said.
Harrison Westfall, Georgia State third-year law student said he thinks T-Deck has less space than N-Deck.
“It’s a little bit tighter than N-Deck, and I have a pretty big car. I get a little nervous with the low-hanging stuff, but I haven’t hit anything,” he said.
Westfall said T-Deck is closer in proximity to the new law building than N-Deck, but N-Deck is larger and more efficient.
“[N-Deck is] a little bit bigger, it was easier to get out, and the lines weren’t as long,” he said.
Reed said Budget Card exit lanes resolve issues with payment avoidance, which were discovered prior to the T-Deck renovations.
“We experienced some payment avoidance by persons who pulled tickets to enter, but used their Budget Cards to exit. As we reopened T-Deck in fall 2015, changes in Budget Card payments were implemented to address the problem,” he said.
Reed said the new traffic routes are temporary solutions also meant to divert traffic from T-Deck’s main access spiral to the upper floors.
“The ultimate routing flows will be determined as additional design plans are finalized and the associated repairs and renovations are completed,” he said.
Reed also said initial reviews of the renovations began in fall 2012, and follow-up inspections were during the fall and winter of 2014.
Rostamy said she pays for parking daily and has no problem with the new changes.
“I used to park in the M-Deck. But because the [College of Law] building moved, I park in the T-Deck,” she said.
