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Issue #22 February 2006 |
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Related Articles "Parking is always an issue on university campuses, with virtually everyone having a personal rationale for why his or her designated parking area should be closer to their immediate destination." From Around the Campus - Winthrop's Residence Halls Your Best Housing Alternative - Winthrop Athletics Soaring to New Heights - Parents’ Note from the Student Union - Dining Services Delivers Quality Excellent Service
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Parking and Traffic Changes for 2005-2006 Academic Year As the students return from what I hope was a great summer, they will notice we have made a couple of traffic pattern changes and parking changes to enhance the safety of the campus community. Let me first explain the 3 traffic changes that were made over the summer: 1. The City of Rock Hill has installed a “NO LEFT TURN” sign at the intersection of Oakland Ave. and Eden Terrace. This sign will now prohibit vehicles traveling towards downtown Rock Hill from Cherry Rd. from turning left onto Eden Terrace. We felt this change was very important to eliminate the number of motor vehicle accidents that have occurred at that intersection in the past 3 years. 2. The City of Rock Hill has also installed a “NO U-TURN” sign at the intersection of Oakland Ave. and Myrtle Drive. This was installed because of the change that occurred at Oakland Ave and Eden Terrace. We found several people electing to make a U-Turn at the intersection of Oakland Ave. and Myrtle Drive so they could then turn onto Eden Terrace. This was also a traffic hazard and had to be addressed. 3. The City of Rock Hill eliminated the 2 parking spaces on Eden Terrace at Oakland Ave. by the Dacus Library. This was done to create a clear sight line when exiting the Dacus Library. Now for the campus parking changes: 1. We have divided parking into Commuter and Resident parking. Those vehicles bearing a Commuter permit or “C” permit will be required to park in the Meadows lot, Dinkins lot, Withers lot, Stewart lot, Legion West lot, Stewart Ave. lot, or on Myrtle Drive. Commuters will be permitted to park in F/S spaces after the designated times. 2. Those vehicles bearing a Resident permit or “R” permit will be required to park in the designated parking lots and roadways around the Residence Halls and in F/S spaces after the designated times. They will also be permitted to park in the Legion lot and the Legion West lot. A parking map can be found on the Campus Police web site at http://www.winthrop.edu/campuspolice/default.htm, or a brochure is available at Campus Police. Parking is always an issue on university campuses, with virtually everyone having a personal rationale for why his or her designated parking area should be closer to their immediate destination. Winthrop is and will continue to be a pedestrian-oriented campus, with student safety our primary consideration in that regard. In recent years, growth in enrollment has meant dealing with safety issues created by more cars, more cell-phone usage by drivers and pedestrians alike, and more incidents involving drivers – most often commuters – speeding through campus. For this reason, in addition to enforcement of existing regulations, after due consideration of various alternatives and related issues for various users, several steps have been taken to reduce vehicular traffic on campus: a predominantly one-way traffic pattern has been established; crosswalks have been visually emphasized as traffic calming elements, and now, parking areas for commuter students are being designated in perimeter areas to reduce commuter “cruising” in what seems to have become a virtually perpetual quest for an ever-closer space. I am sure as you reflect on the importance of safety to large numbers of pedestrians; in particular, you will see why steps to reduce vehicular traffic are in the overall campus community’s best interests. As a predominantly residential institution, this is the plan that makes the greatest contribution to overall pedestrian safety on campus at this point in time.
Frank J. Zebedis |
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