La Voz

Students and staff flood the streets every morning, cramming the parking lots and narrow roads in stop-and-go traffic, only to arrive to class late.

The number of vehicles trying to enter the parking lots at the same time causes long traffic jams and frustration for early commuters. "7:30 to 9:30 is the worst time to be here," said De Anza College student Teddy Hailey. "But that's when the good classes start and you have to be here."

Sergeant Stanley Cross, the jurisdiction officer over the Foothill-De Anza campuses, agrees.

"Traffic starts and stops on campus much like it does on the freeway, but early mornings are the worst."

Student Hayley Walden said the current conditions aren't bad compared to the traffic at the beginning of the quarter, "because everybody thinks they are going to school, and then around the middle of the quarter, all the stragglers drop off and the traffic is fine like [how] it is now." "By the end of the quarter, there are no traffic problems at all," she said.

"It usually takes about two to three weeks for students to adjust to the campus and find their way around," said Cross.

However, midday congestion is still an issue. "At 1:30, everybody wants to get off campus to go get lunch, because there's no cafeteria," said Walden. But these campus jams aren't only caused by stu- dents rushing in and out of the parking lot. Traffic conditions also depend on campus events. With the installation of electronic signs on the north and south ends of campus, students can see what events might lead to potential traffic jams.

"Your best bet at avoiding virtually all possible traffic is to come in before 7:30 a.m.," said Cross. "A lot of people even come in much earlier at the beginning of the quarter. Then it makes it easier for people to come a little later and still get a parking spot." If students have early morning classes, Hailey suggests getting up at 6 in the morning and arriving on campus 20 minutes early.

"You have to sacrifice a little if you want to be here on time - that's the only way," he said. "If you're looking for a parking space, coming after 11:30 or 12 should land you a spot."

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