OU President David Boren has ordered an additional 600 parking spaces be opened to free parking without the use of any OU permit at Lloyd Noble Center.

Boren said student concerns over additional costs to student commuters was the main reason for his decision to open an additional 600 spaces to Cleveland Area Rapid Transit riders.

This means that there will be 1,200 parking spaces available for students who park at Lloyd Noble and ride the Cleveland Area Rapid Transit bus to campus.

"Past studies of parking patterns at Lloyd Noble Center have indicated that only about 600 cars have been parked in free spaces in the past, however, it is very possible that the number of commuter students who decide to use the shuttle system will continue to increase," Boren said. "To be on the safe side, I feel that the additional 600 spaces are necessary”.

The 600 additional spaces will be available to the east and west of the original 600 free spaces.

All other spaces around the center will require the use of a permit.

Around 1:05 p.m., OU Parking Services attendants were notified of the change, and they were told to no longer ticket cars without permits in the newly opened spots.