University of Maryland News

University to Test Campus Drive Restricted Access for Eight Weeks

The University of Maryland will pilot a restricted vehicular access of Campus Drive for eight weeks this summer to determine what challenges it will face next year as it creates a more pedestrian-friendly central campus. Campus Drive will be closed from June 19—August 15 in order to assess issues related to the long-term changes outlined in the University's Facilities Master Plan. Campus Drive will be open for ____hours on July 4th, when the University expects increased traffic flow related to the national celebration.

Campus Drive will be closed west of the "M" Circle and west of Union Lane. In addition, there will be a change in traffic flow on Union Lane—from one-way north to one-way south (see map).

Campus Drive will be closed to regular traffic and WMATA buses, but open to:

• The internal UM Shuttle-Connector;
  
  
• UM Paratransit and one-time special purpose traffic run by UM;
  
  
• Restricted vehicular access such as emergency and required service access (building and facility access that can only be reached by going into closed section: facilities management shops, mail and postal express deliveries, solid waste vehicles; and
  
  
• Untagged scooters and bicycles.

The Facilities Master Plan established four principles or goals to guide future development:

• Plan the built and natural environment in a way that preserves the beauty of the campus and protects the environment;
  
  
• Reduce the number of automobiles on campus and eliminate vehicular congestion to the extent possible while promoting unimpeded movement across campus;
  
  
• Reinforce the campus's role as a good neighbor in the larger community by the careful development of sites on the campus periphery or in outlying areas that link us to the community; and
  
  
• Preserve the architectural heritage of the campus and enhance through open spaces, gathering places, vistas of green lawn and trees, and groupings of buildings that promote a sense of community.

"Our goal is to create traffic-free, pedestrian-friendly zones on campus," said Ann G. Wylie, Vice President for Administrative Affairs. "We expect and want to test disruption, but we need to take steps now to determine what challenges will be and how best to address them as we move forward. No time is perfect, but this generally low-traffic timeframe in the summer will help minimize disruption while we take a real-time look at it."

Approximately 21 disabled parking spaces will be relocated during the 8-week test period. Eleven handicapped-accessible parking spaces near the Cole Student Activities Building, 10 spaces in Lot H, and 1 space in Lot HH will be relocated to 11 spaces just west of the closure by Cole, 4 in Lot ____, 4 in Lot L (by the Mitchell Building), and 2 on Regents Drive (near Symons Hall).

An ad-hoc group will assess the vehicular situation during the pilot period and advise the University's Transportation Subcommittee and the Facilities Master Plan Steering Committee. Several benchmarks will be used during the pilot to identify challenges and measure success: traffic counters; webcams around Campus Drive; and police observations. Temporary, directional, and warning signage and traffic barriers will be positioned in order to minimize traffic disruption and direct visitors around the campus. The initiative is designed to identify and resolve potential traffic challenges that need to be addressed prior to considering permanently restricting access to Campus Drive.

Members of the campus community should urge visitors, colleagues and friends to alter driving to and around campus, and encourage walking whenever possible.