Cross Town Traffic

Toni Ortivez
The Paw Print 

“Cross town traffic, all you do is slow me down.” These are not just lyrics by Jimi Hendrix, but also an accurate description of what ASC students are going through every day.  Traveling to Adams State College is no different, especially with the renovations and improvements currently being made to our campus. It is a constant challenge to find a place to park or a new route to travel. However, the question has arisen as to whether this new construction has affected the students positively or whether it has caused an inconvenience? According to a traffic report released January 22, 2010 by Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers as commissioned by Adams State College, there were no negative impacts regarding traffic as relating to the improvements to the campus.

The study was carried out in September 2009 and concluded that the construction projects should continue because the changes would have no negative effect compared from the current traffic and parking situation. The article on this report is available for student viewing on the Adams State College home page under ASC news. This report has made ASC students aware of the traffic conditions in relation to the construction. However, there are still issues with campus travel, especially if the increasingly bad weather, other travelers, and the single street light which can back up traffic for blocks are taken into account. The plans to create more parking between First and Second Street on Richardson Avenue still leave us in a Catch-22 situation. Many students cannot park in these parking lots because they are full, and tickets are issued for parking in the church and other business parking lots.

It has become increasingly clear that the reduction in available parking has had a negative impact on students. Ian Schmidt-Major, an on-campus resident majoring in art education, says “I don’t like the construction on campus because it leaves the roads torn up and it decreases access to the dorm buildings. The plans to create a larger parking lot between First and Second on Richardson Avenue would be a much needed improvement, however.”  Aaron Nakamura, a commuter and business major, says, “I don’t think that there is going to be enough space if they make a lot on Richardson, especially since we are growing in student numbers; we won’t have enough room.”

Not all opinions on the construction are entirely negative.  Chris Wolfe, a commuter and major in sculpture, says, “I do like that it shows growth in my school, but it overall doesn’t help me and feels like it was something frivolous.” This growth is needed for our community and school; however, how does it affect parking? Courtney Wise, a commuter and Bachelor of Fine Arts major, feels that the construction seems to be taking longer than planned and says, “This report doesn’t take into account the off-campus student population that struggles to find decent parking spot close to their classes. I always end up walking a block or two to get to any classes in the ES building.”

However, we must not jump to conclusions about this report. Information sessions will be held for the public to learn more about these improvements. The next session will be held February 6 at 11 a.m. in room A130 of the Student Union Building.  The rest of the project to improve the campus is outlined in the college’s ten -year Master Campus Plan and includes adding 220 more parking places along with permanently closing down Stadium Drive and replacing it with a campus green.