Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1978 [PAGE 638]

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1978]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

625

Pedestrian Safety Program, Urbana

(24) For some time there has been concern for the safety of pedestrians crossing Wright Street in Champaign and Mathews Avenue in Urbana. The concern is heightened because of the fact that substantial development of the Urbana campus in recent years has intensified pedestrian traffic to the point that both Wright Street and Mathews Avenue now essentially run through the heart of the campus. I n November 1976, by agreement with the city of Champaign, traffic and parking was restricted on Wright Street from Armory Avenue to John Street on an experimental basis and the restriction subsequently extended to August 1, 1978. Similarly, the city of Urbana agreed to restrict traffic and parking on Mathews Avenue between Green Street and California Street for a one-year period beginning in February 1977, and the restrictions were extended until April 30 of the current year. Officials of both cities and campus officers are in agreement that the traffic restrictions on these streets are beneficial and should continue under some kind of arrangement that can be modified from time to time or cancelled, if need be. However, the city of Urbana has insisted upon reimbursement for parking meter revenues lost when traffic and parking were removed from Mathews Avenue. These losses have approximated $7,200 annually. An agreement with the city of Urbana has now been negotiated, providing as follows: 1. That the University will pay the city $7,000 annually, beginning May 1, 1978; 2. T h a t the University will be permitted to make such traffic restrictions as it deems appropriate within that portion of the Mathews Avenue right-of-way falling between Green Street and California Street; 3. T h a t the agreement would be renewable at the option of both parties and subject to the availability of funds which the University may apply thereto; 4. T h a t the agreement would be terminated by either party upon sixty days' prior notice; 5. T h a t emergency, service, and mass transit vehicles would be allowed access to the street; 6. T h a t the city of Urbana would be responsible for all surface and subsurface maintenance activities in the right-of-way; and 7. T h a t the University would supply and maintain all pavement markings and directional, informational, or traffic control signs deemed necessary. Institutional funds are available in the amount of $7,000 for the payment required, as described above. T h e campus officers also propose to enter into an agreement with the city of Champaign before August 1 of this year whereby traffic restrictions can be continued on Wright Street. T h e measures described seek to provide the necessary assurance of continued safe access across Mathews Avenue and Wright Street for the immediate future. However, on a long-range basis, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District and the cities of Urbana and Champaign have tentatively agreed to participate with the University in a joint traffic/transportation/parking study, centering on the campus area, to be funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation and in part from local funds. Each participant would contribute approximately $3,000 to the study. T h i s r e p o r t w a s r e c e i v e d for r e c o r d .

Contract for Snow Removal and Other Work, Chicago Circle and Medical Center

(25) T h e president of the University, with the concurrence of appropriate administrative officers, recommends award of a unit price contract, subject to the