RPS proposes crosswalk in response to students' safety concerns

Foster resident Vanessa Lustig often misses the bus while waiting to cross the street from Foster to the McNutt Quad bus stop. Fee Lane is so busy that the freshman watches cars whiz by for 5 to 10 minutes before she can cross. \nSome students think the problem is so bad that the only answer is a crosswalk.\n"Sometimes you can miss a bus waiting to cross the street, and it can take forever for another one to come," Lustig said. "It's just annoying. I would definitely support a crosswalk."\nMembers of Residential Programs and Services have met to develop a plan for a crosswalk project as a result of students' complaints about traffic and the dangers they face while crossing the busy street. \n"I think for years we have noticed that pedestrian traffic in that area is at risk, and lots of times students are dodging cars to cross the street," said Bob Weith, director of residential operations. \nBecause Fee Lane falls under the city's jurisdiction, and not the University's, the process to implement a crosswalk could take slightly longer.\nRPS plans to complete a proposal to submit to the city by next week. \n"Because it is a city street rather than a University street, there still remains checking to be done," Weith said. "But RPS remains supportive and optimistic about the project." \nHe said he hopes the crosswalk, if approved by the city, will be completed by summer.\nWith the McNutt convenience store, Hoosier Café and A-route bus stop on one side and the Gresham Food Court and Foster Quad on the other, students have many reasons to cross Fee Lane at various times during the day.\n"I live in Foster, and I go to Hoosier Café, the C-Store and I need that bus stop to go everywhere," said Lustig, Foster floor governor. "Especially at night when there is a lot of traffic, it can take anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes to cross the street."\nFreshman Leslie Compton, a resident of Briscoe, believes the traffic on Fee Lane is a valid reason for a crosswalk.\n"I think putting a crosswalk is a good idea," she said. "It's a heavy traffic area for students walking to get food, and it's dangerous crossing Fee Lane because cars drive too fast and many times don't yield to pedestrians."\nThough Fee Lane is not under the IU Police Department's control, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger feels there are other areas on campus that have higher traffic volumes.\n"If you look purely at volume, areas such as 10th Street or North Jordan (Avenue) have higher traffic rates," he said. \nStudents who oppose the crosswalk believe it might be a waste of time and money.\n"I don't think it's necessary to put a crosswalk because it's not one of the busiest roads on campus," said freshman Jessica Burns, resident of Briscoe. "Students can cross the street on their own without the aid of a crosswalk."\n-- Contact staff writer Mallory Simon at mgsimon@indiana.edu.