From: Jay Kohl [mailto:jkohl@aps.rutgers.edu] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 4:02 PM
To: Karen Thompson
Cc: swalagin@rci.rutgers.edu; rabinowi@camden.rutgers.edu; Rhonda; Jack
Molenaar; Melissa Marrero; Bruce C. Fehn
Subject: RE: possible Senate charge

Karen, 

Last week, following our first email communications on pedestrian
safety, I met with Chief of Police Rhonda Harris and Director of
Transportation Services Jack Molenaar and discussed the specific
pedestrian safety issues on the George Street corridor.  While these
accidents are a part of a general pattern of pedestrian safety issues
that challenge the RU community, this particular identified area is
unique for several reasons and merits a more focused explanation of the
challenges, options and long and short term actions being taken. The
following is a summary of the general conditions what we discussed.   

George Street Pedestrian Issues:

Pedestrian safety along George Street between Huntington Street and
Bishop Place has been a concern for many years.  As you will see, this
road has had many pedestrian safety modifications made to it.  Currently
there are six crosswalks in this 1/4 mile stretch of road.  There is
also one traffic signal.  Four of the crosswalks are considered
"mid-block" crosswalks where the vehicle must yield to the pedestrian
when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.  The other two crosswalks are at
the traffic signal.  At these two crosswalks, the vehicles only stop
when the traffic signal is red, they do not have to legally yield to the
pedestrian (this specific rule of the road is not well known by most
pedestrians and/or drivers).  Most of these control points were put in
at the request of RU for identified pedestrian safety reasons.
Unfortunately, it is possible that this complex network of pedestrian
control points may be compounding some of the very problems these
systems were intended to improve or control.  This maze of pedestrians,
vehicles, crosswalks and traffic signals not only causes confusion but
is distracting to both the pedestrians and drivers.    

George Street is a County Road, it is not (like most other roads on the
College Avenue Campus) a City of New Brunswick Road.  This means that
the County of Middlesex is responsible for the maintenance, the
striping, the lighting and signage of this corridor.    No action can be
taken on this road by RU or the City of New Brunswick.  Accordingly, any
actions we feel should be taken has to be approved by the County.  We
have historically worked with the County on these issues.  The
preliminary step to getting action by the County is to identify a
problem.  In addition to identifying a problem RU has historically (as
noted above) presented possible options and/or solutions to address the
problems.    

In this instance, the long range solution for this corridor is shown on
the University's plans for the College Avenue Campus greening.  That
solution would be a pedestrian bridge from the SAC area across to
Records Hall.  It is also important to note the high expense of that
solution and the associated likely demolition of Records Hall.  Also
worthy of mention is the fact that even with a bridge, there is not a
guarantee that all students would use it.  Until such a time that this
pedestrian bridge is built, there are a number of other things that may
help enhance the pedestrian environment along this corridor.  They are
as follows:

1) Pedestrian crosswalk location signs can be installed at each
crossing. We are requesting the County to install these signs. (We
continue to discuss whether this will add to the maze discussed above
but have decided in favor of adding these and observing patterns of
behavior)
2) RUPD will be providing additional education program on crosswalk
safety rules to the students residing in all the student housing areas
abutting George Street.  These classes will begin early next semester.  
3) DOTs and RUPD will be approaching the County's traffic safety experts
to discuss the traffic signal and ask them to investigate whether this
is the best solution for this corridor (it is clear that the current
configuration creates confusion for pedestrians and drivers).  
4) The area of George Street in front of Campbell Hall will be field
checked to verify lighting issues are at or above the standards
recommended for this kind of crossing and to determine if there are any
other physical improvements that could be made to encourage the use of
the existing crosswalks.   (i.e. fencing along the front of Campbell
Hall to direct pedestrians to the existing crosswalks instead of
crossing at the unsafe non-crosswalk areas). 

We are hopeful that these long-term and immediate actions will improve
pedestrian safety in this area.  Should you have any further questions
please do not hesitate to contact me.  Likewise, if there is an interest
in our participation in one of your meeting (to discuss this or explore
other ideas) we would be available to meet with you.   J


Jay Kohl
Vice President
Administration and Public Safety