No
more parking, standing or loading in Champ Drive roundabout
By Tamber Weston
February 10, 2005 | Signs posted around
the Champ Drive roundabout are forcing students to find
a new place to catch a ride to and from Utah State University.
Ever since Champ Drive was closed to through traffic,
due to construction on the new housing complex, the
roundabout has become an increasingly popular place
for students to meet up with their rides. But all of
that is changing now that the USU police office has
posted signs prohibiting such use.
Lt. Shane Sessions there are two main reasons the
signs were posted. The first is liability issues. The
lane between the Taggart Student Center and the LDS
Institute of religion is a fire lane and must remain
open to fire engines and ambulances around the clock.
Before the signs were posted many drivers parked their
cars their while waiting for passengers, making the
lane unaccessible to emergency vehicles. In the event
of a fire or other emergency the university
could be held liable if vehicles blocked the entry.
Sessions cited congestion as the second reason for
the signs. The waiting vehicles created back up for
both shuttle buses as well as for freight companies
trying to make deliveries to the university.
Sessions said that even when the shuttles are in the
roundabout, drivers are not allowed to open its doors
until it reaches the specified loading area. This can
be difficult when traffic is in the way.Shuttle drivers
have been known to honk at parked cars in their way.
Students on shuttle have been equally annoyed and complained
to the USU police.
Freight companies have also complained. When congestion
delays deliveries to the university, other deliveries
are delayed and the companies are not happy about that.
Although Champ Drive has been closed to through traffic,
drivers may enter near Merrill Library and drive down
to the Haight Alumni Center’s circular drive and
drop off passengers along the way.
Sessions recommends drivers drop off passengers along
700 North in designated cut-out zones. And if
necessary, passengers can be dropped of at the stadium’s
parking lot and catch a shuttle.
Sessions thinks the signs may be helping but because
they are not metal some people don’t consider
them official. He said more official-looking, metal
signs will be posted in the spring after the ground
thaws.
Until then, he says officers will continue to ask drivers
to move parked cars. If the warnings are
ignored officers will issue citations.
If the problem persists, Sessions said stronger enforcement
will be used.
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