Following several incidents involving pedestrian and motor vehicle collisions, the City of Charlottesville, with input from the University's Security and General Safety Committee, will repave the stretch of Emmet Street adjacent to Memorial Gymnasium. The repaving is scheduled to take place during Spring Break, weather permitting.
According to Mark Fletcher, the chairman of the Safety Committee, the stretch of road now presents a safety concern because of the excessive number of crosswalks.
"There are four crosswalks in a block and a half, and a driver is not going to have the same level of respect for the last crosswalk that they had for the first one," Fletcher said. "The goal is to have more pedestrians crossing in fewer crosswalks."
Along with a reduction in the number of crosswalks, the plans for Emmet St. include an increased amount of pedestrian signs, according to Fletcher.
Additionally, the length of the left hand turn lane on to University Ave. will be reduced.
Committee members expressed excitement about the repaving plans.
"We are really happy that we are making progress and the administration is responding to our input," said Matt Miller, a student-member of the Safety Committee.
Although the physical layout of the stretch of road causes safety issues, some of the danger may be attributed to pedestrian negligence and the distraction caused by cell phones.
"We have noticed as a committee that pedestrians have a responsibility at the crosswalk as well," Fletcher said. "Technology pieces, including cell phones and headsets are creating unsafe situations. People have not picked up on some of the common sense things about using a cell phone."
Miller also recognized individuals' responsibility for their own safety.
"We have to understand our safety doesn't happen in a vacuum and we all need to be responsible," Miller said.
While safety on Grounds is a concern for all members of the University community, it is the job of the Security and General Safety Committee to address security problems both those the committee itself recognizes and those presented by the community.
Members of the committee include faculty and staff, as well as students appointed by Student Council.
Currently, the committee is working on a project to improve the lighting along McCormick Avenue, starting with the segment on the west side of the road from the Chapel to Newcomb, and eventually going all the way to Alderman Rd. The committee also oversees the blue emergency phones located around Grounds.
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