March 8, 2004

MEMORANDUM

To: Campus Planning Committee (CPC)

From: Christine Taylor Thompson, Planning Associate University Planning

Staff: Christine Thompson (University Planning)

1. Campus Heart Project, Phase 1: Turn Arounds/EMU Parking Expansion/Intersection Schematic Design

Background: Staff provided the background information and described the applicable Long Range Campus Development Plan patterns and policies as summarized in the meeting mailing.

Chris Ramey, University Planning, described the project as presented in the meeting mailing. The Campus Heart project is a part of the larger University Street Concept. Funding is available for the first two phases of the Campus Heart project. The CPC is being asked to review Phase One, which consists of two turn arounds, EMU parking lot improvements, and special paving at the University Street and 13^th Avenue intersection. Phase two will consist of the kiosk student design/build project.

Chris said the turn arounds are designed to reroute traffic away from the pedestrian campus center. Only service vehicles will be allowed through the intersection between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Large post office trucks may be allowed access if necessary. After 5:00 p.m., through traffic will be allowed to accommodate EMU events.

Chris said nine parking spaces will be removed as part of this project. All but one will be replaced in the redesigned EMU parking lot. The remaining space will be replaced elsewhere on campus.

Chris said the EMU board has reviewed the project and supports it.

In response to a member's question, Chris said the 13^th Avenue turn around location was selected to accommodate Post Office access requirements and to avoid removing additional parking spaces. He explained that improvements to make the campus more pedestrian-friendly have occurred incrementally. The proposed turn around is the next logical step in this process. Perhaps in the future, autos will be restricted further east where the existing kiosk is located.

Matt Scheibe, project landscape architect from Cameron McCarthy Gilbert Scheibe, presented the project's design as described in the meeting mailing. Matt said the 13^th Avenue turn around's required size revealed that it did not fit in the location identified in University Street Concept (near Columbia Hall). Therefore it was moved further east to be on axis with Volcanology and alleviate grading concerns. This revised location provides an opportunity to improve the landscaping in front of Volcanology and the Post Office.

Matt said 13^th Avenue will be converted from one-way to two-way traffic. The existing bike lanes will be removed and bike traffic will be integrated in with the vehicle lanes. A separate bike lane is proposed to provide a safer entrance east-bound for bicyclists entering the turn around.

The drawings presented at the meeting indicated that the 13^th Avenue transition zone (between the intersection and the turn around shaded in blue) may not be completed as part of this project due to limited funding. Matt confirmed that the CPC should review the project with the understanding that transition zone improvements may not occur.

Matt said either the sidewalk will be lowered or the street will be raised to eliminate the intersection's four-inch curb. The existing street curve on the amphitheater side will be modified to create a wide universal access area. Tactile materials will define the transition from the sidewalk to the street, and the edges will be enhanced with ground level planting areas (protected from foot traffic by curbs). The intersection will be resurfaced with pavers designed to accommodate heavy vehicle traffic.

Matt said the existing barricade on University Street will be replaced with bollards similar to those on 13^th Avenue. The proposed improvements will formalize the use of the intersection at Johnson Lane as a turn around. Also, a small planting bed to slow traffic will be added.

Matt said the EMU parking lot will be modified to accommodate lost street parking. The south planting bed will be reduced slightly in size to allow head in parking on both sides of the lot. A smaller hedge and three trees will be planted in the planting bed.

Discussion: In response to a member's question, Chris said the proposed project does not preclude previously approved Straub Quadrangle improvements.

A member expressed concern with the special bike path entering the 13^th Avenue turn around. Fred Tepfer, University Planning, agreed that this bike ramp presents bike safety concerns.

In response to a member's question, Chris confirmed that there is room for two-way vehicular traffic and bikes on 13^th Avenue.

A member expressed concern with approving the intersection design prior to reviewing the kiosk design since the two projects are linked. The intersection and the kiosk should be treated as one project because, together, they are meant to create a space rather than define traffic movement. The proposed intersection design emphasizes the vehicle; the wide curve and paving relate to vehicular use rather than creating a pedestrian space. The intersection design and its definition of space would benefit from student input as part of the scheduled design/build kiosk studio class. Sustainable ideas could be more carefully studied, such as tree locations, paving materials, and storm water treatment.

Larry Gilbert, CMGS, said the two design phases will be coordinated to ensure the designs are seamless. Even so, some options to change the intersection's design will be limited by the time the kiosk design is completed.

In response to a member's question about whether the intersection construction schedule could accommodate a delay, Stan Jones, Landscape Architecture, said his kiosk design/build studio plans to have a kiosk design ready for CPC review by the sixth week of spring term. He has seen the proposed intersection design and acknowledged the importance of linking it to the kiosk's design. Larry said the intersection must go out to bid prior to completing the kiosk design to ensure that both can be constructed simultaneously in the summer and will be ready well in advance of fall term (the kiosk does not require a lengthy bidding process). The current schedule plans for construction completion by Labor Day, a few weeks before fall term begins.

A member supported the idea of moving toward the European model of a flexible-access pedestrian plaza. However, the area is still being referred to as an intersection pointing out the emphasis on the vehicle (street) rather than the pedestrian (outdoor room or plaza).

A member said the sloped transition from the sidewalk to the street presents problems for pedestrians with sight impairments. Street crossings must be clearly defined. Fred Tepfer, University Planning, agreed.

A member suggested moving the 13^th Avenue turn around further west to the existing kiosk, particularly now that the Children's Childcare Development Center has moved out of the EMU. Perhaps permits could be allocated to the users of the 20 parking spaces that exist along 13^th Avenue. More efficient parking may be possible (e.g., diagonal parking) if the street is not used for general vehicular traffic. If post-office access is the limiting factor, perhaps it should be relocated.

Chris introduced three possibilities for committee action:

1. Approve some parts of the design and have the remaining parts come back to the CPC for review at a later date.

2. Approve some parts of the design and have the remaining parts come back to the Design Review Subcommittee for review at a later date.

1. Revisit the bike-ramp design to determine if it should be revised or eliminated.
2. Research and integrate sustainable concepts into the design, in particular the use of sustainable materials (alternative paving options) and stormwater management, as described in the Sustainable Development Plan.
3. Revise the intersection design, with student input and consideration for the kiosk design, and bring it back for Design Review Subcommittee review at the beginning of spring term (1^st or 2^nd week). Address the following issues:

1. Provide safe and effective access for pedestrians with mobility and vision impairments.
2. Create a design that emphasizes the pedestrian and the concept of an "outdoor room."

Please contact this office if you have questions.

cc. Ron Bloom, Facilities Services