Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Video
Calming devices to increase pedestrian safety
Some city streets will be safer for student pedestrians come this fall. KU is partnering with the city to install what they call traffic calming devices.
KU students and University officials want drivers to slow down for pedestrian safety on roads just northwest of campus. To make that happen, four speed cushions – gentle speed bumps – will be installed at two intersections on West Campus Road.
The University of Kansas will pay $60,000 to install the speed cushions, which are just outside of the campus’ property line. The speed cushions will be installed at the intersections of West Campus Road and Stratford, and 11th and West Campus Road, by Joseph R. Pearson Hall. Jim Modig, the university’s director of design and construction management, said the speed cushions are expected to be in place before students return to classes in August.
A speed cushion is similar to the familiar speed bump except that it rises and stays flat for a distance before falling back to the pavement. The cushions allow buses to pass over the bump with ease, Modig said. KU buses pass through both intersections on their routes.
“Speed cushions don’t have as severe of a bump, but enough that you know to slow down,” Modig said. “That is the intention to slow traffic down and make crosswalks safer.”
Modig said there are safety concerns at both intersections because of the high volume of student pedestrians and traffic. A traffic study conducted by the city showed that approximately 3,700 vehicles passed through the intersection at Stratford and West Campus Road during a 24 hour period. The visibility of oncoming traffic is not good for pedestrians at the 11th and West Campus Road intersection, Modig said.
“We want traffic to slow down to make sure pedestrians have time to react to oncoming cars,” Modig said.
David Woosley, the city’s traffic engineer, said police can’t be everywhere enforcing the speed limit at all times and that traffic calming devices, like speed cushions, are the only way to slow traffic down in a problem area.
“Students brought this forward as a safety concern,” Modig said.
Both intersections are located on city streets, and not KU streets. Modig said the city has been receptive to the project. The University and the city often work as a team on street improvements near university property.
“The city will put plans together and contract out to have construction take place,” Woosley said. “Then KU will reimburse the city for all the costs.”
Both locations will have two speed cushions installed, one on each side of a cross-walk. Half of the $60,000 total is funded by the Campus Safety Advisory Board from past student fees. The university is paying for the other half with repair and rehabilitation funds, Modig said.
The city has a long list of approved road improvements that lack funding.
The project is a priority for the University and is being paid for by KU because it benefits students, Modig said.
“If we didn’t take the initiative to pay for this project, it would go on the bottom of the city’s list,” he said. “We might have to wait 5-10 years to get it done. “
Crossing sign not in the right place
College students don’t need their hand held when they walk across the ...
Editorial: Intersection needs improvement
Intersection at 15th Street and Engel Road may not be safe for ...
Campus police go green
City project aimed at clearing game day ...
A $500,000 upgrade will allow key traffic lights to be remote-controlled when ...
Committee works to make bicycling safer in ...
Possible grant money will expand Lawrence bike lane network, increase safety for ...
Lawrence follows other Big 12 towns in ...
The city completed the change on Feb. 9, more than a decade ...
Campus construction slows traffic
Needed steam tunnel repairs during the summer closes roads.
Stop signs befuddle cyclists
Bike riders on campus find themselves getting ticketed for not obeying stop ...
Student Senate proposes crosswalk construction
Senate has offered to pay for a crosswalk in front of Naismith ...
Easing restroom woes for transgendered, disabled students
KUnited and the KU LGBT Resource Center are calling for more gender-neutral ...
12th Street to be brought to light
A new lighting project will improve the walk from campus to downtown ...
Left turns prohibited on 23rd Street
Geared for change
Subversive cyclists want a piece of the street and to change your ...
City looks into fatal accident
Editorial: Personal awareness, lighting both needed
Personal responsibility and continued commitment to increased lighting both important.
Buildings without water; street floods
A water-main break on Wednesday flooded West Campus Road yet left halls ...
Group opposes downtown crosswalk
Organization believes crosswalk hinders rather than helps the blind.
Iowa and 23rd streets intersection among most ...
The city is assessing its options to curtail driving accidents.
Lighting project’s details remain undecided
Commissioners and public agree that safety is an issue, but fixing the ...
KU Parking and Transit creates parking spots, ...
Even with the new moped arrangements and parking spots, riders still have ...
Women’s rugby hoping to end on high ...
Team could finish fall season 3-1 with victory against Benedictine.
Bus crashes near traffic booth
A University bus ran into a concrete barrier last night.
Able life
The University is far from the ideal campus for students with mobility ...
Two pedestrians injured near campus
Two pedestrian-versus-vehicle accidents near campus Wednesday sent two students to area hospitals.
Editorial: City needs to increase bicyclists' safety
More bike lanes would continue to make Lawrence biker-friendly.
Crews clean up storm debris
Heavy rains caused tree damage around campus.
Winter Weather Advisory in effect
Drivers and pedestrians should take extra caution on campus Monday.
No free rides
One person dead following motorcycle accident on ...
A fatal accident occurred near the intersection of Iowa Street and University ...
Thompson: Poorly planned routes dangerous for cyclists
New lights could make neighborhood safer
Six student organizations are working with the city to install lighting near ...
Weather balloon launch successful
The balloon, launched by students from the Geohawk project, gathered hundreds of ...
Administrators focus on campus safety instead of ...
The Northern Illinois University shooting hasn't affected KU's policy.
Cyclists have same rights, responsibilites as other ...
Lawrence begins road maintenance project
The repaving of Lawrence’s roads will likely cause inconveniences to drivers.
Oread Neighborhood safety in question
Lawrence police try to monitor the area, commonly known as the “student ...
Campus burglaries on the decline
Based on records from the past 12 years, campus burglaries have been ...
Taking a street sign could cost you ...
Stealing a street sign could result in theft charges, a fine up ...
Bus drivers energized by student community
KU on Wheels, in association with the City of Lawrence, has seen ...
State cracks down on drivers texting and ...
Individuals will now be ticketed for not wearing their safety belt.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID