President's Postings: Open letter to University Senators in favor of Campus Drive alignment of the Purple Line

The following letter was sent to all members of the University Senate on November 14, 2007:

Dear Fellow Members of the Senate,
 

I wanted to let you all know that I was concerned by Monday's Senate presentation on the proposed route for the Purple Line. I have tremendous respect for Vice President Duncan and he and I have had many discussions on this issue, nevertheless, I profoundly disagree with the Administration on this and believe that the proposed Campus Drive alignment is the best option for the Purple Line on campus.

I believe the campus community should have a broad based and fully informed debate about this very important decision. Where the Purple Line goes will obviously have a significant impact on the campus for decades to come. I wanted to explain my perspective, which is shared by many student leaders including the editors of Rethinkcollegepark.net, on the Campus Drive vs. Stadium Drive debate. I hope we can use this as a jumping-off point to further the dialogue on this issue.

First I would like to address the University's concerns with the proposed Campus Drive Alignment:

Ø Aesthetics: I believe the University's aesthetic concerns are exaggerated. The MTA's sketches for the Campus Drive alignment do not show any visually offensive elements. There certainly will not be any four-foot walls. Light rail has been integrated successfully into many beautiful suburban environments, including the city of Montpellier, France without significant aesthetic problems. From my perspective, a sleek, quiet train is certainly no more obtrusive than an endless line of rumbling Shuttle buses. The MTA proposes a variety of measures to minimize the impact of the Purple Line on the campus, as well as an estimated $2 million in streetscape improvements (new sidewalks, signalized crosswalks, street treatments, landscaping and maybe even a parallel bikeway). If you've walked from North Gate to the Union lately, I think you'll agree this sounds like an improvement. I love the beauty of this campus as much as anyone, and I am committed to protecting it. I believe the MTA is also.

Ø Pedestrian Safety: Light rail has been remarkably successful and safe when integrated into pedestrian-heavy cities all over the world. Light Rail is at least as safe as buses. Currently 750 buses go along Campus Drive every day. Closing Campus Drive to private automobiles, as has been proposed in the campus' Facilities Master Plan, would reduce vehicle traffic by 78%. The Purple Line would replace many buses so there would be an even greater reduction in vehicle/pedestrian conflicts. At 10-12 MPH through campus, Light Rail operators will easily stop for pedestrians (on closure of Campus Drive to private vehicular traffic, see the Facilities Master Plan, pp. 23).

Secondly, some arguments in favor of the Campus Drive Alignment:

Ø It's Where People Are: For transit to be successful, it must go where people go. By and large the foot traffic for the main portion of the campus is along Campus Drive.  

Ø It's Already a Major Public Transit Way: As suggested by the master plan and existing shuttle routes, Campus Drive is already a (if not the) major public transportation route through campus. Moving from more buses to the Purple Line just makes sense – and the existing vehicular traffic on campus drive already presents most of the major pedestrian awareness issues that have been raised in relation to the Purple Line.

 Finally, I would like to raise some concerns related to the proposed Stadium Drive Alignment:

Ø It Adds Time to the Route (2.5 minutes)

Ø It Adds Cost to construction ($28-34 million)

Ø It is adversely impacted by stadium events

Given that it is less convenient, and considerably more expensive, I find it hard to understand why the University administration prefers the Stadium Drive alignment.

It is very important that we make the right decision about placement of the Purple Line on campus because the University and surrounding community will have to live with it for decades to come. It must be taken into consideration that students will most likely be the majority of the Purple Line's ridership on campus. Many students do not have cars, and those that do have less convenient parking options than most faculty and staff. I believe that the Campus Drive alignment is certainly more favorable to students and I believe it is to the entire campus.

I would also invite you to look at the considerably more expert analyses of my colleagues at rethinkcollegepark.net.

If you're interested in seeing the Maryland Transit Administration's presentation on the Purple Line through campus, please feel free to come by the GSG Assembly meeting this Friday Nov. 16 in the Crist Boardroom of the Riggs Alumni Center. The presentation will begin at 1:30pm sharp.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this lengthy treatise. I would be happy to discuss questions comments and concerns from anyone at greater length.