If you live outside Montgomery, this probably won't have any effect on you, and even if you do live here, I may be the only one uphappy with a recent City Council decision. With little fanfare, and as far as I know, no notice, the Council agreed to give a portion of a public street to Alabama State University. Hall Street, it's called...a stretch of the street between I-85 and Carter Hill Road is now part of the ASU campus. There will be gates for ASU to close the street when it wants. Speed limits will be dropped to 15 mph or so with crosswalk/speedbumps. It's part of a $3-Million dollar project to create a new gateway into the campus. Problem is that Hall street was a common commuter street for drivers (like me!) trying to get from one part of town to another. 
It probably was inevitable that the University would take control of the street, since they bought a former neighborhood to the East of Hall street and over the years demolished the buildings. Several new campus structures went up on that side of the street in the past year or so. Universities, by nature, grow.
I just wish there had been some kind of hearings or notices given.
And I hope the city street department is prepared for the added wear on the few other ways to get from there to here.
I'm certain we have a somewhat parallel issue here in Huntsville with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
ReplyDeleteHolmes Avenue and Sparkman Drive intersect the university. However, the U has purchased most of the property in the Sanderson subdivision across the street from Holmes.
Holmes is a major thoroughfare to Sparkman Avenue (accessing US Hwy 72 & I-565) from Jordan Lane (AL Hwy 53).
There is a Holmes Avenue bridge span over/through UAH because the topography required it. However, since the U purchased Sanderson Subdivision, there have arisen voices from within the U that would have the portion of Holmes that traverses UAH campus closed to city traffic.
That is a most misguided and wrong-headed notion for numerous reasons, about which there have been no uncertain community voices opposing any such action. Hence, UAH is pursuing an alternative means to "join" their campus, vis-à-vis an underpass or bridge span which would completely eliminate the intersection and its regulating light.
Curiously as well, they have constructed a parking deck, and are using federal funds to create an intra-campus "transportation shuttle system," otherwise known as buses.
Why?
The campus is extraordinarily compact, and all buildings are within reasonable walking or bicycling distance.
I suppose if they can feed at the slop trough of federal funds, they're happy.
And, that they've done.
In the long run, the street closure will be good. We don't want students killed.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of other ways to get from here to there.