Thank you for the Sept. 25 front-page coverage on the safety improvements being implemented for pedestrians on Comstock Avenue (‘SU to close shortcut from Shaw’). As the article indicated, the purpose of the improvements is to maintain student safety. Comstock Avenue is a high-traffic, multi-lane city street that can be dangerous to cross at locations other than the designated crosswalks.

Unfortunately, the former driveway connecting the ‘Q-4’ parking lot across from Shaw Hall to Comstock Avenue made it easy for pedestrians to cross Comstock at an inappropriate, mid-block location and continue through the busy Q-4 parking lot to reach the Quad area. Now that the driveway has been removed, we hope pedestrians will be encouraged to use the crosswalk at the Comstock/Euclid Avenue intersection or the crosswalk directly across from the CST building. The sidewalk into campus along Euclid Avenue and the route through the new Life Sciences atrium (where you can grab a cup of coffee in the new cafe) are safe and well lit, and will be well maintained throughout the snow season. These are the best routes for students, faculty and staff traveling back and forth from Shaw Hall and the east neighborhood to campus.

We also hope pedestrians will be respectful of the residents of AZD house on the corner of Comstock and Euclid avenues, and avoid using their driveway and back yard as a walking route.

Again, thanks for increasing public awareness of this important safety improvement to the campus.

Eric L. Beattie

Director

Campus Planning, Design, and Construction

Published on October 1, 2008 at 12:00 pm