Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task ForceRecommendations

Background

Indiana University’s Bloomington campus is large consisting of more than 40,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff. Approximately 11,000 students live on campus, while many others live within walking or biking distance of the campus. The campus has a relatively large footprint in the City of Bloomington. It is bordered by residential areas on the south, east and west sides and to the north by relatively undeveloped areas. There are a number of major city streets adjacent to the campus and one heavily traveled street (10th street) that traverses the NW and NE quadrants of the campus.

The campus is served by both a campus bus system (Campus Bus) and the Bloomington city bus system (Bloomington Transit). Many students use the bus systems to get to campus, or around campus, or both.

Over the last ten years there have been numerous accidents involving vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  Over that time, however, for a campus of this size the number of accidents has not been alarming.  In fact, the overall traffic safety record arguably has been quite good.  However, in recent years there has been a growing sense and some evidence that the “safety margin” has diminished as the number of students, faculty, and staff increased along with the number of vehicles operating on campus.  Sadly, three accidents in the last seven years have resulted in fatalities, two in 2002 and one in September 2009 in which sophomore student Peter Duong was hit by a car while crossing Fee Lane.

On September 18, 2009, Provost Karen Hanson created the Bloomington Campus Safety Task Force asking it to “conduct a thorough examination of traffic safety on our campus.” The task force was charged with examining the factors that contributed to recent pedestrian accidents on the Bloomington campus and recommending feasible measures to improve traffic safety not only at the locations of recent accidents, but also throughout the campus. The task force was composed of faculty, staff and students, as well as officials from the City of Bloomington. (Appendix A contains a full list of task force members.)

Concurrently with the formation of the task force, the Office of the Provost created an e-mail account where members of the university community and the community at large could send suggestions on how to improve traffic safety on campus. Over five hundred suggestions were received. These suggestions were reviewed by the task force and used in their deliberations.

After Provost Hanson presented the charge to the task force at its first meeting on October 5, its members discussed the charge, the context for the traffic safety issue, and parameters that would govern its subsequent discussions:

1. It is important to note that the streets that generate the vast majority of concerns regarding traffic safety (Fee Lane, 10th Street, Jordan Avenue, 3rd Street, Atwater, Indiana

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Avenue, and 17th Street) are city streets, controlled and maintained by the city of Bloomington. Any changes to these streets must be made by the city of Bloomington.

2. The task force had a lengthy discussion of the Indiana laws governing pedestrians and traffic. It was clear that the statutes involved are confusing. The laws are written in such a way that it is difficult to determine who has the right of way, even in a crosswalk.

3. It was acknowledged that no one at the university is an expert on traffic safety (traffic engineer). Therefore it may make sense to enlist the services of a traffic safety expert at some point in the process.

The task force met four additional times during the month of October, gathering information and discussing possible recommendations. During its second meeting, members walked along Fee Lane between 10th and 17th street to observe first-hand the interaction of pedestrians, vehicles, and bicyclists. (Appendix B contains the minutes of the task force meetings).

Some initial observations emerged from the meetings and tour:

1. The laws governing pedestrian crosswalks are confusing and, as a result, open to interpretation. It was clear that IUPD, the Bloomington Police Department (BPD), and Bloomington Department of Public Works agree on a common interpretation. Basically in the absence of special pedestrian control signals that exhibit the words “walk” or “don’t walk”, pedestrians must yield the right of way to vehicles under Indiana law. However, the code is often interpreted to provide the pedestrian the right to cross in a designated crosswalk as long as the pedestrian does not “…suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” (IC 9-21-17-5) In other words, Indiana code does not require vehicles to stop for pedestrians in pedestrian crosswalks unless they have the aforementioned pedestrian control signals.

Based on this interpretation of Indiana code governing pedestrian crosswalks and due to the fact that a significant number of students, faculty, and staff come from areas with different rules, the City of Bloomington is not in favor of installing additional traditionally designed mid-block crosswalks. Their presence may give pedestrians a false sense of security when in reality pedestrians do not have the right of way in these crosswalks.

2. Pedestrians generally pay attention to traffic and follow the rules although there is a tendency for many students (and some faculty and staff) to talk on the phone, text, or listen to music while walking. The concern is that these activities can be distracting and reduce awareness on the part of pedestrians. 3. Many bicyclists fail to follow traffic laws although, by Indiana law, they must observe the same rules as vehicles. 4. The increased use of the bus system seems to have changed the pedestrian traffic flows. For example, at the living areas on Fee Lane there are large numbers of students who cross the street to get on the bus or after they disembark from the bus.

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5. Traffic seems to be exceeding the speed limit on Fee Lane. However, a subsequent monitoring of vehicle speed on Fee Lane determined that vehicles were not traveling significantly over the speed limit.

Subsequently, members were asked to formulate a prioritized list of initiatives they felt should be considered by the task force. (See Appendix C). These priorities were discussed at both the October 16th and October 23rd meetings and form the basis for the task force’s recommendations.

Recommendations:

1. Undertake an extensive education program at the beginning of each semester to make sure the university community understands the “rules of the road” and the inherent dangers associated with pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic around campus.

a. Basic principles of the education program:i. The message should be visual, simple, and straightforward

ii. It should be a recurrent message to ensure continuity over timeb. The program should be as widespread as possible:

i. Work with the Office of Enrollment Management1. Incorporate educational message in freshman orientation, campus

visits (red carpet days), etc.ii. Work with RPS to disseminate educational message

1. Floor meetings2. TVs/monitors in lounges and Union Building3. “Move in Week” safety table4. Bulletin boards on residential floors

iii. Use the IU Web page, Twitter, etc. (follow the approach used to disseminate information concerning the H1N1 virus)

iv. Disseminate traffic safety information during Information Fair at Wells Library during summer orientation; in January place a display in the library lobby

v. Place message on cards inside campus busesvi. Launch media blitz in association with enhanced enforcement by IUPD

vii. Include more pedestrian and bicyclist and safety information in the “Getting Around Campus” brochure developed by the Division of Transportation Services. Make this brochure widely available (and possibly available as part of the basic education program).

2. Implement a plan that creates a new type of crosswalk that delineates the safe “zone” for pedestrians entering a crosswalk. The “safe zone” defines an adequate distance between the crosswalk and vehicles, thereby providing pedestrians with the right of way as long as no vehicles have entered the “safe zone” before the pedestrian steps off the curb to enter the crosswalk. The “safe zone” delineates what is an adequate distance between the pedestrian and vehicle in order to satisfy the requirements of IC 9-21-17-5 (referenced above). The city of Bloomington has designed crosswalks based on crosswalks used at other universities (see Appendix D). These crosswalks provide both drivers and pedestrians visual clues as to when it is safe for pedestrians to enter crosswalks, and when drivers must yield to pedestrians.

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a. The task force recommends installing these crosswalks at two locations on Fee Lane as a “pilot” to ensure they work as planned. The two crosswalks should be located north of where Foster Circle exits onto Fee Lane, near the bus stop across from Foster and by the Fee Lane Parking Garage.

b. To heighten awareness of the newly designed crosswalks, IUPD and BPD should launch an education campaign for pedestrians and drivers on how these crosswalks should work. This campaign could be coupled with enforcement to increase awareness and compliance.

c. The city of Bloomington has identified six other potential sites for the newly designed crosswalks. They include:

i. 10th street and Walnut Groveii. Jordan Avenue at the Jordan River Bridge

iii. Jordan Avenue by the Musical Arts Centeriv. 10th Street across from SPEAv. 17th Street across from the DeVault Alumni Center

vi. Fee Lane across from the Outdoor Swimming PoolThe task force endorses the construction of new crosswalks at these locations if the aforementioned “pilot” locations prove to be successful in enhancing traffic safety. (Note that it may be necessary to codify those crosswalks not already contained in Chapter 15.60 of the Bloomington Municipal Code in order to facilitate enforcement).

3. Campus Bus and Bloomington Transit made the following recommendations regarding changes to bus stops on campus:

a. Move the northbound and southbound Bloomington Transit bus stop near McNutt to the existing Campus Bus stops near the south end of McNutt

b. Eliminate the northbound Bloomington Transit stop near Gresham Dining Hall. (There is no corresponding southbound stop).

c. Extend the right turn lane in front of the Library on 10th street another 100 feet to the west to allow buses to pull over and not block the right turn lane at Jordan.

d. Eliminate the bus turn out lane in front of Jordan Hall. The buses don’t use it and it just creates traffic confusion.

e. Install a left turn arrow from (eastbound) 10th street to (northbound) Fee Lane. This would eliminate some dangerous situations where traffic is continuing to try to turn left after the light has changed to a pedestrian crossing light.

The task force endorses these recommended changes.4. A traffic engineer should be engaged to study the pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic

patterns around the Bloomington campus. This study should be integrated with efforts already underway in conjunction with the campus master plan. There is a detailed study underway looking at the north side of campus so it may make sense to retain the consultants engaged in that study (Gorove Slade and Associates).Items the study could include:

a. Speed limits within the campusb. Introduction of more traffic signalsc. Implications of the proposed street changes within the master plan

i. Woodlawn extension (from 7th street to 17th street)ii. Law Lane – 14th street extension from the Bypass to Walnut Street

d. Additional crosswalk needs

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e. Relationships between crosswalks and bus stopsf. Bicycle paths within (and to and from) campusg. Establishing an “all ways cross” for pedestrians at the intersection of 10th and

Jordan and 3rd and Jordan.5. The task force recommends formation of a standing committee or advisory body that

would be charged with continual oversight of campus traffic safety issues. Because campus traffic safety involves many operational units, it is important that one body be given overall responsibility to coordinate efforts on campus and to work with the City of Bloomington.

Respectfully Submitted by Paul Sullivan and C. Kurt Zorn on behalf of the Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task Force

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Appendix ACampus Traffic Safety Task Force Members

Paul Sullivan, Task Force Co-Chair, Capital Projects and Facilities

Kurt Zorn, Task Force Co-Chair, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Dean for Women’s Affairs, Commission on Personal Safety Co-Chair

Mark Bruhn, Assoc. Vice President, Information & Infrastructure Assurance

Keith Cash, IU Police Department

Mike Crowe, IU Physical Plant

Pete Goldsmith, Dean of Students, Commission on Personal Safety Co-chair

Susie Johnson, City of Bloomington

Mike Diekhoff, Chief of Police, City of Bloomington

Kent McDaniel, IU Transportation Services

Valerie Pena, Public Affairs and Government Relations

Larry Stephens, Risk Management

Mia Williams, University Architect’s Office

David Zaret, Office of the Provost

Scott Williamson, IU Student Association

Jessica Schul, Residence Halls Association

Dee Meadows, CWA Local 4730

Doris Wittenburg, Bloomington Professional Council

Lou Malcomb, Bloomington Faculty Council

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Appendix BMinutes from Task Force Meetings

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Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task ForceOctober 5, 2009

Minutes

In attendance: Larry Stephens, Lou Malcomb, Sabrina Sullenberger, Mike Diekhoff, Susie Johnson, Pete Goldsmith, Jessica Schul, Scott Williamson, Dee Meadows, Mia Williams, Mark Bruhn, Michael Crowe, Keith Cash, Kent McDaniel, Paul Sullivan, Kurt Zorn

1. Provost Hanson discussed the charge for the task force, noting that the committee’s scope should include traffic safety for the entire Bloomington campus with a special emphasis on Fee Lane. She would like to have preliminary action items and recommendations by October 31st if at all possible.

2. Susie Johnson, Director of Public Works for the City of Bloomington, provided background material regarding the streets for which city has responsibility within the area covered by Indiana University. The city has responsibility for the boundary streets (Indiana Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue, Dunn Street, Union Street from 3rd to 10th and 7th Street between Indiana and Woodlawn and East 3rd Street). (The state has responsibility for the 45/46 bypass). The city also has responsibility for the major thru streets (East 10th Street, East 17th Street, Jordan Avenue from 3rd Street to 17th Street, and North Fee Lane. Basically Indiana University has responsibility for all other streets within the campus area with a few minor exceptions. She provided a map to task force members that shows the area covered by Indiana University and the major streets serving the area for which the city is responsible.

Ms. Johnson provided a handout containing Chapter 9 of Indiana Code Title 9 (Motor Vehicles), Article 21 (Traffic Regulation), Chapter 17 (Pedestrians). These sections of code provide information on a variety of topics including statutes regulating pedestrian crosswalks. In addition, she handed out Title 15 (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter 15.60.050 (Miscellaneous Traffic Rules -- Pedestrians) that contains locations of pedestrian crossings established by city ordinance within the City of Bloomington. Four of these crossings exist on the Indiana University campus in the 700 block of Fee Lane across from the Indiana University parking garage; the 100 block of South Jordan Avenue at IUMAC; the 200 block of South Jordan at Black Studies entrance; and 1490 North Fee Lane between the Indiana University Stadium parking lot and the Indiana University outdoor pool facility.

Ms. Johnson led a discussion on mid-block crossings. She is generally not in favor of un-signalized mid-block crossings. She said that in her experience, they are not effective.

The task force discussed the background information provided and asked questions clarifying the meaning of Indiana Code as it pertains to pedestrian crossings. Basically in the absence of special pedestrian control signals that exhibit the words “walk” or “don’t walk”, pedestrians must yield the right of way to vehicles under Indiana law. However, the code is often interpreted to provide the pedestrian the right to cross in a designated crosswalk as long as the pedestrian does not “…suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle

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that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” (IC9-21-17-5) In other words, Indiana code does not require vehicles to stop for pedestrians in pedestrian crosswalks unless they have the aforementioned pedestrian control signals.

3. After a brief general discussion of traffic safety issues concerning the entire campus and Fee Lane in particular, it was decided that the focus for the remainder of the meeting would be on identifying possible options for traffic safety improvements for Fee Lane. A number of options were suggested including:

Doing nothing Focus on education and training of pedestrians, bicyclists, and operators of motor

vehicles Lower the speed limit from 25 mph to 20 mph Place a four way stop sign at the corners of Law Lane, 13th Street, and Fee Lane Narrow the lanes and construct natural barriers and/or bike-multiuse lanes along Fee

Lane Realign Law Lane and 13th Street Add signalization at

o Kelley Business/SPEA and the Fee Lane Garageo 13th Street and Law Laneo At the top of the hill (between the road that runs behind Foster and the bus stop)

Establish pedestrian crosswalks at various locations (yet to be determined) that are enforced by IUPD cadets

Establish driver feedback signs (signs that indicate to drivers their speed) Place tubes on Fee Lane, 13th Street, and Law Lane to establish vehicle counts and

speeds Take pedestrian headcounts Hire an engineering firm to do a thorough analysis of ways to improve traffic safety on

Fee Lane

4. The task force decided on some action items to gather information and to hopefully have an immediate impact on traffic safety on Fee Lane. First, Susie Johnson, on behalf of the City of Bloomington and the Department of Public Works, agreed to

Freshen the road striping on Fee Lane Install tubes on Fee Lane, 13th Street, and Law Lane to gather information about vehicle

counts and speeds After gathering information about vehicle speed, construct a few temporary driver

feedback signs on Fee Lane to inform drivers of their speed.

Mia Williams, Michael Crowe, and Susie Johnson will work on the suggestion to narrow the lanes and construct natural barriers on Fee Lane.

Keith Cash will gather some preliminary information on the cost and logistics of providing IUPD cadets to enforce pedestrian crosswalk use.

Paul Sullivan and Susie Johnson will work on collecting information regarding the realignment of 13th Street and Law Lane.

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Scott Williamson will meet with a newly formed student traffic safety group to determine whether they could provide student volunteers to assist in compiling pedestrian head counts on Fee Lane. Susie Johnson volunteered city assistance to train these volunteers.

5. The next meeting will be Friday October 9th from 2:00 to 3:30. The task force will meet in the SPEA Room 270 and then take a walking tour of Fee Lane.

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Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task ForceOctober 9, 2009

Minutes

In attendance: Mike Diekhoff, Pete Goldsmith, Scott Williamson, Dee Meadows, Mia Williams, Michael Crowe, Keith Cash, Kent McDaniel, Michael Coleman, David Zaret, Doris Wittenburg, Paul Sullivan, Kurt Zorn

1. The Provost’s Office created a mailbox for the university community to use to send suggestions with regard to campus traffic safety. Members of the task force can gain access to the mailbox at www.exchange.iu.edu (contact Paul Sullivan or Kurt Zorn for the username and passphrase).

2. Keith Cash discussed how Purdue University configured non-signalized pedestrian crosswalks to make them safer for pedestrians. The university, with input from the Indiana Department of Transportation, set up painted cones 30 feet before the crosswalk to provide a visual cue to pedestrians about what constitutes a safe separation distance between themselves and vehicles. The 30 foot distance is what the Department of Transportation indicates is the minimum adequate distance for a pedestrian to safely enter the crosswalk and still give approaching vehicles time to stop.

Purdue initiated an education and media campaign along with enhanced enforcement to accompany the “roll out” of the new crosswalk configuration.

Keith will send electronic notes he took with regard to this pedestrian traffic enforcement initiative along with diagrams of the crosswalks so they can be shared with all task force members.

3. Members of the task force took a walking tour of Fee Lane to see first-hand the challenges and issues posed by this thoroughfare between 10th Street and 17th Street.

4. The task force had a general discussion concerning what they noticed during the walking tour and general issues regarding traffic safety on campus. The discussion included:

The numbers of students crossing the street to catch or exit the buses when they stopped. The location of campus bus stops – general policy and how locations are determined.

Kent McDaniel reported there is a lot of discretion concerning location. The location of campus bus stops and city bus stops. It was noticed that some stops are

coterminous while others are close to each other but not coterminous. Bicycle safety and riders’ adherence to the same rules and laws as motorized vehicles The problem of people using their phones and texting while driving and walking The central role education can play in improving safety

5. Task force members were asked to put together a list of items they think will help improve campus traffic safety. The items should be prioritized and may include short run and longer run ideas. These lists should be sent to Paul and Kurt before the October 16th meeting.

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6. The next meeting will be Friday October 16th from 2:00 to 3:30 in the IMU Dogwood Room.

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Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task ForceOctober 16, 2009

Minutes

In attendance: Paul Sullivan, Kurt Zorn (via phone), Susie Johnson, Mike Diekhoff, Larry Stephens, Scott Williamson, David Zaret, Mark Bruhn, Pete Goldsmith, Jessica Schul, Keith Cash, Kent McDaniel, Lou Malcomb, and Nina Mehta.

1. Task Force members discussed “Keith’s plan for crosswalks” Susie Johnson met with the Mayor and the City Engineering Department and developed

some modifications to the plan that seemed to be very complete. (Two drawings that were developed are attached). Basically, the modifications take the plan as presented last week and add more detailed signage and a pedestrian island.

Comments and discussion ensuedo If the street is too narrow, the same crosswalk configuration could be deployed

without the pedestrian island.o Susie mentioned a concern about the pedestrian island and the need to widen the

street’s shoulders to allow emergency vehicles to get around traffic when it is stacked up. This may limit the use of pedestrian islands on 3rd street due to the inability to widen that street’s shoulders.

o Both BPD and IUPD were comfortable with enforcing the crosswalk rules (and helping educate)

o There was some concern that these crosswalks would cause traffic congestiono Susie said the City is proposing a number of possible places for these crosswalks:

Jordan Avenue by the MAC Fee Lane by the outdoor pool Fee Lane around north of 13st Jordan, south of 7th street Fee Lane and Business 10th between Fee and Jordan 17th street in front of the Devault Center 10th and Walnut Grove Also someone mentioned Dunn Street near the football stadium

Despite 17th and Jordan being identified as a problem spot in comments sent to the traffic@indiana.edu mailbox, the City is not proposing a crosswalk in that location. There are many concerns about this location and an engineering firm is looking into ways to improve safety there.

o The idea is to start slowly and put in the newly configured crosswalks in one or two locations to see if they work the way they are expected to.

o The City Legal Department is researching whether the City can pass on ordinance that is more restrictive than the state code with regard to pedestrian crosswalks.

o Finally, Susie Johnson mentioned that the City Legal Department has provided the Department of Public Works with an interpretation of pedestrian right-of-way

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in crosswalks that is the basis for the interpretation shared with the task force at its first meeting on October 5th.

2. The task force continued the discussion about the laws governing pedestrians and crosswalks in Indiana. Kurt received a couple of e-mails indicating that he was incorrect in stating (in an interview with the IDS) that pedestrians don’t have the right of way in crosswalks. Susie Johnson and Mike Diekhoff confirmed that Kurt’s interpretation of the (very confusing) laws were correct. But Susie also said that the city is reviewing whether the city can pass a more restrictive law regarding pedestrians and crosswalks – she will keep us posted3. Kent McDaniel had a meeting with the Campus Bus and City of Bloomington bus operations to look at the bus stops around campus. They made a number of recommendations (see attached).4. Susie reported that she did complete the traffic counts, but forgot them for this meeting and will mail them out later (see attached).5. Keith Cash reported that IUPD had cadets checking speeds on Fee Lane last week and did not find that many vehicles that were traveling significantly over the speed limit. He will also provide those numbers later.6. The task force discussed the priorities submitted by the task force members (see attachment). Some additional items were mentioned:

Look at the bus schedule Maybe use different buses with larger doors to facilitate quick embarking and

disembarking Do we have a plan for education?? Change the crosswalks at 10th and Jordan and 3rd and Jordan to have a time for pedestrian

crossing onlyMeeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.Next meeting is Friday October 23rd at 2:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, Bloomington City Hall.

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Bloomington Campus Traffic Safety Task ForceOctober 23, 2009

Minutes

In attendance: Paul Sullivan, Kurt Zorn, Mike Crowe, Susie Johnson, Scott Williamson, David Zaret, Mark Bruhn, Pete Goldsmith, Michael Coleman (for Jessica Schul), Dee Meadows, Doris Wittenburg, Keith Cash, Kent McDaniel, and Lou Malcomb,.

1. Campus Traffic Safety Education – the task force discussed a number of ideas how to provide education to the university community with regard to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety

An education should be put togethero The message should be visual, simple, and straightforwardo It should be a recurrent message to ensure continuity over time

Work with the Office of Enrollment Managemento Incorporate educational message in freshman orientation, campus visits (red

carpet days), etc. Work with RPS to disseminate educational message

o Floor meetingso TVs/monitors in lounges and Union Buildingo “Move in week” safety tableo Bulletin boards on residential floors

Use IU Web page, Twitter, etc. (follow the approach used to disseminate information concerning the H1N1 virus)

Disseminate during Information Fair at Wells library during summer orientation; in January could put a display in the library lobby

Place message on cards inside campus buses Media blitz associated with enhanced enforcement by IUPD Include educational message in parking operations publication

2. Pedestrian Crosswalks The task force reaffirmed its support for the pedestrian crosswalk discussed at its October

16th meeting The City of Bloomington is moving forward with the pedestrian crosswalk concept

discussed at the task force’s previous meeting. By early November the Department of Public Works should have scale drawings for nine pedestrian crossings on streets serving the campus.

It was agreed that a sub-group of the task force consisting of Susie Johnson, Mike Crowe, and Keith Cash would determine the best location for two pilot pedestrian crosswalks on Fee Lane. They will mark the locations for review by the committee before the October 30th meeting.

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3. Location of Bus Stops The task force endorsed the recommendations provided by Campus Bus/Bloomington

transit in a document provided to the task force at its October 16th meeting.

4. Longer term issues The task force endorsed the idea of a formal engineering study of campus traffic safety

and recognized that this study should be coordinated with the campus master plan. A discussion ensued about the future of traffic safety on the campus and how to best

ensure campus traffic safety regularly received the attention it warrants. It was determined that a standing committee or advisory body be formed, with much the same representation as the Bloomington Traffic Safety Task Force. This committee would provide advice to the Provost on issues and initiatives associated with pedestrian, vehicular, and bicycle safety on an ongoing basis.

5. Agreement was reached on a general outline for the task force’s report. The co-chairs will work on drafting the report and distribute it for review and comment to members of the task force. The report will include:

brief history and background summary of the charge to the task force reference to the task force’s deliberations and discussions – minutes in appendices recommendations

The task force’s next meeting is Friday October 30th at 2:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, Bloomington City Hall.

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Appendix CPriorities Submitted by Task Force Members

Member A

1. Stoplight on Fee Lane for pedestrians to cross from McNutt to Foster2. Midblock crosswalks on Fee Lee on the Purdue model3. Student education on pedestrian safety issues 4. Longer term: align Law Lane and 13th Street and narrow Fee Lane

Member B

1. Crosswalks and signage ala what Purdue has done2. One or more traffic signals along Fee at Law and/or 13th Street is worth considering3. Look closely at how bus stops are located along Fee and across campus

Expressed concern that whatever we do does not cause more problems rather than solve problems (i.e. mid-block crosswalks)

Member C

1. Analyze and interpret crosswalk possibilities and then perform some test implementations along Fee Lane

2. Education, focusing on pedestrians and bicyclists immediately3. Reduce speed limits within campus4. Longer term planning for pedestrian and bicycle “paths”

Member D

1. Experiment with mid-block pedestrian crosswalks (using Purdue’s approach) at one or two locations on Fee Lane. If successful, can expand to other hotspots on campus.

2. Reduce speed limits on campus, including main thoroughfares such as Third, Fee, 10th, etc., to a maximum of 20 mph

3. Educate the university community re traffic safety4. Longer term:

Enlist the services of an engineering firm that specializes in campus traffic safety to study the issue and provide recommendations

Align 13th Street and Law Lane Consider narrowing Fee Lane (if other short term remedies are not successful)

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Member E

1. Pedestrian activated crosswalks with in pavement lights and flashing sign, as done in Boulder Colorado. Costs - $15-20K per

2. Pedestrian crosswalks with in pavement lights, as per Federal Highway Administration3. Widen Sidewalks in conjunction with clearly defined bike lanes4. Enforce laws regarding bicycle travel5. Education campaign6. Raised walkway between McNutt and Foster7. Raised walkway over Fee at KSOB??8. Traffic Safety awareness blitz9. More “no-drive” zones10. No cars on campus for freshmen

Member F

1. Prominently marked (raised??) crosswalks with vertical signage in middle of street on Fee and possibly 10th

2. Align city and campus bus stops3. More concerted police enforcement (bicyclists, speeding)4. Ban of handheld devices while driving

Member G

1. Consider an “all ways cross” at 10th and Jordan similar to the intersection at 10th and Fee; might be good at 3rd and Jordan too.

2. Incentives for more bikes on campus3. Keep 7th Street closed4. Consideration  of the tipping point in student population growth as it relates to safety5. Consider eliminating the dangerous pull off lanes on 3rd Street near Jordan and the

Greenhouse where automobile rear-enders occur too frequently 6. Consider installing a “round-about at the Jordan Ave Parking Garage” 7. Long-term:  Require a “traffic and pedestrian safety impact statement” be included in

any new building plans for the main campus.  [Note new classroom building on south side of 3rd Street has students streaming out to cross 3rd for buses and other parts of campus…no light, no control.]  Landscape and safety mechanisms should be considered before building other such class room buildings.

8. Long-term: Consider removal of parking along Indiana Ave. across from the Law School entrance where students/faculty are crossing from the parking lot.  In the long-term parking should be removed between 3rd and Kirkwood with bike paths marked to encourage walking and make driving and walking safer. Landscape might be installed for better bus usage.

9. Long-term:  Recommend removal of parking along 7th street east of Jordan.  Too often students walk out from between parked cars and visibility is limited.  Again, limiting parking would encourage walking and biking.

10. Stagger classes and work schedules to improve flow of traffic (car and pedestrian).

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11. Close 7th Street at the Union to all car traffic (including A’s) … make it deliveries and emergencies only during classes.  I have tried to drive it to pick up something at the Student Building and there is too much traffic to maneuver it. 

12. Insist that all 3rd street and 10th street places have “delivery pull offs” to eliminate delivery vans/trucks from blocking traffic (like at the Fraternity next to Law School)

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Appendix D

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