K-Mart Park & Ride lot
will close beginning Dec. 14

Beginning Tuesday, Dec. 14, the K-Mart parking lot located at the corner of Western Boulevard and Blue Ridge Road will no longer serve as a Park and Ride lot for the Wolfline bus system.

The end of service there comes at the request of the property owner, NC State Transportation spokesperson Christine Klein said.

“We have been fortunate to enjoy the use of the K-Mart lot as a Park and Ride facility for many years,” Klein said. “K-Mart management appreciates the patronage of NC State students and would like to continue the relationship. However, the ultimate decision regarding the use of the property rests with the property owner, and he has requested that we no longer use this lot as a Park and Ride facility.”

The closing of the K-Mart lot will displace about 400 commuters, Klein said. Those impacted by the closure have several options:

• Westgrove St. lot – Just a block down Blue Ridge Road from the K-Mart lot, the Westgrove St. lot has 125 spaces that Klein said are rarely used. The lot also uses the same bus route that currently serves the K-Mart lot (Westgrove #4). However, that route will be changing from a 15-minute route to a 30-minute route, and it will also no longer make stops at Pullen Road or Charmichael Gym.
• Carter-Finley lot – The Carter-Finley lot has virtually unlimited space, and the Wolfline will be providing 10-minute service during peak times. An extra bus has been added to the route to enhance service to the lot. The lot is accessible through Gate B off Trinity Road or Gate F off Westchase Boulevard. The lot is serviced by the Vet School #6 route, which makes several North Campus stops.
• West lot – A limited number of “E” permits are available to the West lot off Sullivan Dr. The permits will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at a prorated cost of $157 for the remainder of the year. The lot receives 10-minute service via the Wolflink Shuttle (#7), which makes numerous stops throughout Main Campus.

Klein said the Centennial Campus Park and Ride lot is already operating at capacity and would not be a good option for anyone displaced from the K-Mart lot.

For more information, visit www2.acs.ncsu.edu/trans or contact Pat Mitchell at 513-7400.

Posted December 7, 2004

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