Although it can be hard to muster energy when sitting on Route 19 waiting for the light to turn green, NASH students can breathe more easily when it comes to parking at school this year. With new procedures and routines in place, students feel more optimistic about driving to and from school each day than ever before. 

This year, according to NASH Administration, 700 parking passes were issued to accommodate students who prefer to drive to school. In addition, 30 parking spots that were previously reserved for teachers were given to students this year. 

In order to receive a pass before the start of the school year, each student was required to attend a summer presentation that directly addressed new expectations and reiterated safety standards. 

Such a process of getting a parking pass had never been done at North Allegheny before. For seniors, obtaining a pass this year took longer than it did their junior year, yet the response to the new process has been positive overall.

“[Parking at NASH is] actually a lot better this year,” senior Breanne Hoffer said. “The school has staff members standing in the road to guide traffic, so it helps students get out a lot faster.”

Senior Amy Solman feels that by the time she arrives at school, she is able to find a parking spot more easily, describing the search for a convenient spot as “less competitive” than it had been for her previously.

Both Hoffer and Solman agree that if there were anything that they would do to further improve the system, it would be to dismiss students in waves, reducing the number of students exiting the building at once. 

Luke Kisak, however, is more concerned about the flow of traffic in the morning.

“It would help if they reopened the right turn into the main lot in front of  the gym entrance,” the senior said.

Yet senior Charlie Pallerino agrees with Hoffer and Solman that student parking procedures have been revised for the better.

“The parking lots already seem more organized, but we will have to see if that holds up,” Pallerino told The Uproar.

Senior Camryn Gray added that “the addition of 30 extra student parking spots this year has been a tremendous help,” further describing the expansion as “being able to support both the Class of 2023 and 2024.” 

Libby Heckert, a senior, mentioned that she is able to “get home from school in five minutes now,” a much shorter commute for her than in the past. 

Most students believe the district is on the right path to making the process of driving to school a safer and more efficient experience for students. And as long as North Allegheny remains committed to making adjustments in the face of changing conditions, the parking lot will likely continue to improve, becoming less of a burden and more of an opportunity.