Campus Facilities trying to cut back Rollins congestion
By Shawn Davis, posted 4/19/06

Every day students deal with the hassle of driving, walking or riding down Rollins Road. The congestion, busses, and a confusing four-way stop at Hitt and Rollins, all contribute to the confusion. MU’s Campus Facilities are looking to stop this confusion and have come up with three unique ideas to be voted on in April.

“The first idea we have is to close Rollins from 8:15 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.,” associate director of campus facilities, Phil Shocklee said. “We want to incorporate it into the pedestrian campus so that no one can drive down Rollins while the majority of students are on campus.”

Although that would seem like a very popular option, Campus Facilities have also come up with two other ideas, ideas that they call "calming options," to help stop the congestion on Rollins. One option is to reduce the width of Rollins from 35 feet to 22 feet and move the location of the bus stops. The plan also includes a beautification process, which will plant trees and landscape the side of Rollins.

“This is not a very viable option at this point,” Shocklee said. “No one pays attention to the no-parking signs now, so I don’t think reducing the width would stop the congestion because kids will still illegally park in the reduced area.”

The other option that is being considered is to put two “pork chops” at the four-way stop, one just south of Rollins on Hitt St., and the other just north of Rollins on Hitt St. This would only enable right-hand turns onto Rollins from both directions, cutting down on waiting time and overcrowding.

“This is a great non-expensive option,” Shocklee said “Gary Ward, who is the director of campus facilities and I have been really pushing this option and presenting it to various groups on campus. Since Rollins is a city road, we have been working with them to try and get this done.”

With the “pork chops” in place, Rollins will be safer for both pedestrians and drivers, while cutting down on confusion and congestion.

“We want to have some changes made over the summer,” Shocklee said. “This way when the students get back from break they will notice a vast improvement on Rollins.”

> Back to Corner Post Home