The congestion of the bus turnaround at the Holmes Student Center can often resemble the 5 p.m. traffic of Interstate 88.

Efforts to renovate the turnaround to avoid the over-crowding and lack of parking are in the works.

Robert Albanese, associate vice president for financial facilities, said a project is on the books right now that looks to remodel the west side of the student center from the doors to the curb.

“It’s a terrible situation, not only because of the buses but because of all the students,” he said. “It just gets too congested.”

The Student Association Mass Transit Board has allotted $50,000 this year to assist in renovating the turnaround and other areas.

“This entire project would be funded by Mass Transit, Holmes Student Center and also the parking operation,” Albanese said.

With students always about, construction during the school year is not possible. Albanese said he hopes to have the turnaround finished within six to eight weeks this summer.

“Summer is our window, and if we miss it, then we’ll just have to hope for next summer,” he said.

The reaction of many students is that of, “It’s about time.”

“It probably should have been done about a year ago,” said junior journalism major Amy Armalis.

Albanese went on to say that because there will be extra money, the renovation should not end at the curb outside the west side of the student center, but extend throughout the whole turnaround.

“We need more meters, and hotel guests need some better access to parking,” he said.

Albanese said the parking problem can be solved by getting rid of the island in the middle of the turnaround.

“Putting in angled parking would add another 20 to 30 spaces easy,” he said.

Originally, the turnaround was not intended for buses, said Albanese, and that is a big part of why the turnaround is so beaten up.

“It’s just a busy area, and the buses have torn it up,” he said.

As a result of the harsh beating the turnaround has received over the years, its appearance has deteriorated.

“It’s not an attractive area right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of students who spend a lot of time there, and I just want to make it look nicer. We’re going to put in some more landscaping and benches for students.”