Recent improvements on campus and on Wolfline buses are making it easier for handicapped students to travel around campus. Officials from the departments of transportation and of facilities both said there has been much improvement for accessibility on campus.

Randy Reggi, of facilities planning and design, said a number of accessibility projects have been completed or will be finished soon.

“One of our newest projects that we’ve recently completed is the Talley Student Center courtyard,” Reggi said. “We’ve built a system of ramps and walkways that allow anyone to travel from the bookstore to the Talley Student Center.”

He also said a few sidewalk-improvement projects will assist handicapped students in moving more easily around campus.

According to Reggi, sidewalk improvements will soon be completed outside of Daniels Hall, on Stinson Drive.

“Another sidewalk improvement project was completed that allows a path from the Brickyard, out by the west wing of the library to Scott Hall,” he said.

Transportation Information and Communications Specialist Christine Klein, said the new Wolfline buses include improved accessibility features for handicapped riders.

“Now, the larger (40′) buses’kneel’ to the height of the curb and make it much easier to get on and off of the buses, especially for those temporarily disabled “like someone on crutches,” Klein said. “Also, the accessible door on the buses used to be on the back, and now they are on the front of the buses. All the lifts work on all the buses, and that’s a plus.”

Klein also said there are plenty of handicapped parking spots for students in need “as long as they follow the parking permit process.”

“Students need to understand that we are more than happy to accommodate them, but the process is necessary “due to the high demand of parking for anyone, handicapped or not,” she said.

She said the process includes having the student’s doctor fill out and fax a medical form to the department of transportation. Then, according to Klein, transportation evaluates the student’s needs and gives him or her a permit based on those needs.

The student must pay for a handicap-accessible parking permit,”just like any other student or faculty member,”she said.

According to Klein, there are 472 handicap-accessible parking spots on campus. She also said N.C. State operates under compliance with the American Disabilities Act.Klein said she recommends to handicapped students that riding the Wolfline may be easier than using a parking permit, due to campus terrain.

Despite the effort to improve accessibility on campus, some students have brought mobility problems to transportation officials, according to Reggi.

“We know the situation,”he said. “Students do approach us with issues that need immediate attention. We’re trying. But, it’s difficult to improve buildings and sidewalks without some sort of advance notice.”

According to Reggi, the department of facilities has a program in place to deal with accessibility issues that arise from student concerns.

“It’s basically a survey,” he said. “We keep a list of deficiencies for accessibility. It’s a long list.”

Each year, facilities evaluates its budget and applies money to items on the list based on priority.

“The list includes problem areas in buildings and outside around campus,” Reggi said.