Construction’s end not near enough

By Annette Germinario
 

    “The main entrance to South Campus will be closed for construction until Nov. 1, 2000. Enter from Joe B. Rushing Drive, C.A. Roberson Drive or the frontage road. For more information: Campus Police 515-4570.”
     This information from the TCC home page in no way prepared me for the parking nightmare that ensued on my first day of the semester.
     The Experience: Trial and error navigation, driving in a holding pattern until a “legal” space opens up, farther distance from car to class, increased blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. Add to this water main breaks, power outages and early morning alternative entry route traffic jams that start the day, and we’re not exactly “good to go” for the semester.
vBy the time I pushed open the door of my first morning class of the semester, I was no longer filled with fresh enthusiasm for new beginnings. Frazzled does not begin to describe it (reread above paragraph and employ imagination).
     My second attempt at this new routine was for my evening class. With experience behind me, I took on the Nike attitude to “Just Do It.” No, I would not be flustered this time. I was on my way to Jazz Singers class; I needed all the “coolness” I could contain.
After circling the parking areas of my desire only three times, I landed the last lined space inside the construction barriers. It was close. I was cool. My class was incredible. Rick Stitzel cooks those jazz chords into sweet, syrupy honey strains and pours them straight into our ears for inspiration. I walked out into the thick, warm night air and welcomed the absence of the construction din.
     My calm was short lived as I eyed the City of Fort Worth parking citation awaiting me on my car windshield. I was cited for parking inside a construction zone. Thanks to the workers who reconfigured the barriers in preparation for the next day (while I was in class), I now owe the city $15. I have since found out that Campus Police can cite city parking violations “in certain circumstances.” My only recourse is to go to court. Never mind. I’ll just pay up and shut up. (Except I get to write this column.)
     The Perception: The “poor planning committee” (PCC) is alive and well and operating on TCC South Campus. This PCC would certainly plan to commence a construction project that coincided with school starting. Beginning such a project in the summer when enrollment was down would raise less havoc and would appear within the realm of common sense.
     Just to make sure I wasn’t the only one who was annoyed, I asked some fellow students, faculty and staff what they thought of the construction.
     The more expressive responses did not show my friends at their politically correct best, and I am not possessed of the gall to incriminate faculty on minor issues, but Angel Carr did not whine or complain when she stated her feelings.
     Carr works at the Campus Police Department and is seven months pregnant. She usually parks across the street from the office, but these days must walk from a distant lot to her workplace. This is not exactly the Tom Thumb Stork Club treatment, but Carr’s situation evokes enough pathos to put our complaints in perspective.
     The Reality: “So far it looks good,” states George Richardson, TCC physical plant director. According to Richardson, the construction was slated to begin during the Summer I semester but met with delays due to the project’s being larger than originally planned. Already I am feeling justified with my PCC theory. Then he continues to explain that upon closer inspection, concrete failure was more extensive than originally estimated, and the road repair turned into a road replacement. Here I am thinking “ah ha, another point for my side.” Then he winds up and delivers the zinger:
     “The latest estimate is for the road to open by the end of September and sidewalks to be completed in early October.” This threw me completely off track. My perception that it would take until 2002 to be rid of this bane of student convenience was busted.
Well, ok, but what about the water and electrical debacles that have plagued us since the construction party set up camp?
     To this, Richardson has the ready answer that the breaks may have been attributed to the demolition-of-concrete phase of construction, but hot, dry weather is also suspect.
     The outages were due to a transformer problem instead of the construction project. The transformer has been replaced.
     Richardson was pleased that we are getting a new road and sidewalks that will optimize traffic and enhance the campus. I couldn’t help but share his enthusiasm. However, I still want the construction over. Now!