Comments on: SGA Poised to Support Campus Dr. Alignment http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/ Helping imagine a great college town for a great university Sat, 31 Jul 2010 05:10:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ken Tozzi http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/comment-page-1/#comment-105604 Ken Tozzi Mon, 12 May 2008 03:42:39 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/#comment-105604 It seems to me that the University of Maryland administration continues to drag its feet in coming to a decision concerning the Purple Line. Personally, I feel that the addition of a light rail-type transportation service will only be a tremendous asset to our campus’ growth economically, aesthetically, and prestigiously. It will also cut down on some of the major traffic issues on Campus Drive, as well as ease some of the outrageous housing problems by attracting more commuter students. 48% of the University of Maryland’s outstanding student body lives in college housing (Collegeboard.com). This is to be expected, as the university attracts students nationwide. This number is a little bit surprising however, if you take a look at the percentages of other prestigious schools on the east coast. Penn State University houses only 36% of their undergraduate population. The University of Delaware houses 46% of their undergraduate population. The University of Virginia houses 43% of their student undergraduate population. These numbers are all very similar to Maryland. But in order to find where the Purple Line fits in here, you must look at the location of these schools. Virginia, Delaware, and Penn State are big schools with large followings and a diverse student body from all over the country. But these schools are all located, for lack of a better term, in the middle of nowhere. Route 29 is nothing but highway 5 miles in either direction of Charlottesville. The state of Delaware has only 3 counties. Penn State is hardly located mere miles from the nation’s capital. My point is that many high school students who reside in the densely populated area of which the current DC Metro services, with the addition of the Purple Line to run straight through our campus, will choose to commute to school instead of living here on campus. The numbers from these other schools, coupled with the addition of their geographic location, show little need for any transportation project like that of the Purple Line. There isn’t a large population directly located around their campuses. They simply do not need it. There is no existing transportation service like the metro to add on to. Sure it would look nice to construct such a great service, and it would bring a certain prestige to their campuses, but such a project to connect such a large region just wouldn’t make any sense. The necessary addition of the Purple Line will no doubt decrease the percentage of undergraduate students which the university houses, easing the tension of off-campus housing. Another issue that will be somewhat alleviated will be that of traffic and parking. There is no debate that our campus is overrun by cars on a school day, and finding a parking spot can be utterly ridiculous. A traffic study done in College Park in 2006 concluded that by 2026, most major intersections in the Greater College Park area will have a failing level of service. Additionally, traffic on Route 1 is expected to increase 55% (http://www.bot.org/shaping/archives/testimonies/detail.asp?id=497). It is obvious that something needs to be done about this issue. I am in no way, shape, or form proclaiming that the addition of the Purple Line will solve these impending problems. But with the sheer number of people that live in the area who commute to campus on a daily basis, it is very safe to assume that we can lessen the blow of these imminent tribulations. If one out of every ten cars currently on campus daily is taken off by the addition of the Purple Line, the issue is on its way to a solution. With the addition of another parking garage and a better use of space, and we could really be on to something here. It is in my opinion that the administration of the University of Maryland should accept the fact that the Purple Line is a step in the right direction to finding solutions to many problems here on our wonderful campus. Some kinks need to be worked out, and many debates with opposition and friendliness will undoubtedly occur. But something needs to be done, and the addition of the Purple Line sure is a leap forward. It seems to me that the University of Maryland administration continues to drag its feet in coming to a decision concerning the Purple Line. Personally, I feel that the addition of a light rail-type transportation service will only be a tremendous asset to our campus’ growth economically, aesthetically, and prestigiously. It will also cut down on some of the major traffic issues on Campus Drive, as well as ease some of the outrageous housing problems by attracting more commuter students.
48% of the University of Maryland’s outstanding student body lives in college housing (Collegeboard.com). This is to be expected, as the university attracts students nationwide. This number is a little bit surprising however, if you take a look at the percentages of other prestigious schools on the east coast. Penn State University houses only 36% of their undergraduate population. The University of Delaware houses 46% of their undergraduate population. The University of Virginia houses 43% of their student undergraduate population. These numbers are all very similar to Maryland. But in order to find where the Purple Line fits in here, you must look at the location of these schools. Virginia, Delaware, and Penn State are big schools with large followings and a diverse student body from all over the country. But these schools are all located, for lack of a better term, in the middle of nowhere. Route 29 is nothing but highway 5 miles in either direction of Charlottesville. The state of Delaware has only 3 counties. Penn State is hardly located mere miles from the nation’s capital. My point is that many high school students who reside in the densely populated area of which the current DC Metro services, with the addition of the Purple Line to run straight through our campus, will choose to commute to school instead of living here on campus. The numbers from these other schools, coupled with the addition of their geographic location, show little need for any transportation project like that of the Purple Line. There isn’t a large population directly located around their campuses. They simply do not need it. There is no existing transportation service like the metro to add on to. Sure it would look nice to construct such a great service, and it would bring a certain prestige to their campuses, but such a project to connect such a large region just wouldn’t make any sense. The necessary addition of the Purple Line will no doubt decrease the percentage of undergraduate students which the university houses, easing the tension of off-campus housing.
Another issue that will be somewhat alleviated will be that of traffic and parking. There is no debate that our campus is overrun by cars on a school day, and finding a parking spot can be utterly ridiculous. A traffic study done in College Park in 2006 concluded that by 2026, most major intersections in the Greater College Park area will have a failing level of service. Additionally, traffic on Route 1 is expected to increase 55% (http://www.bot.org/shaping/archives/testimonies/detail.asp?id=497). It is obvious that something needs to be done about this issue. I am in no way, shape, or form proclaiming that the addition of the Purple Line will solve these impending problems. But with the sheer number of people that live in the area who commute to campus on a daily basis, it is very safe to assume that we can lessen the blow of these imminent tribulations. If one out of every ten cars currently on campus daily is taken off by the addition of the Purple Line, the issue is on its way to a solution. With the addition of another parking garage and a better use of space, and we could really be on to something here.
It is in my opinion that the administration of the University of Maryland should accept the fact that the Purple Line is a step in the right direction to finding solutions to many problems here on our wonderful campus. Some kinks need to be worked out, and many debates with opposition and friendliness will undoubtedly occur. But something needs to be done, and the addition of the Purple Line sure is a leap forward.

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]]> By: Daniel Kessler http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/comment-page-1/#comment-92406 Daniel Kessler Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:18:57 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/#comment-92406 If this group does not remain, then a new one must be created. This online movement cannot be allowed to die so suddenly. It would be a tragedy. If this group does not remain, then a new one must be created. This online movement cannot be allowed to die so suddenly. It would be a tragedy.

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]]> By: Kevin Fallon http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/comment-page-1/#comment-92389 Kevin Fallon Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:45:35 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/#comment-92389 thats where the faculty advisor comes in. trouble is it may also prevent the site from vigorously challenging the university's position thats where the faculty advisor comes in. trouble is it may also prevent the site from vigorously challenging the university’s position

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]]> By: David Daddio http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/comment-page-1/#comment-92214 David Daddio Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:20:10 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/#comment-92214 Mostly I'm concerned about quality control. Mostly I’m concerned about quality control.

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]]> By: Kevin Fallon http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/comment-page-1/#comment-92188 Kevin Fallon Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:48:27 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2008/560/#comment-92188 We cant allow this site to die. Any thought to working with some professors in the school of Arch to make this site a student project for a grade / credit? I would gladly do the leg work on that. Another option is to make it like other blogs where folks like me and Mr Catlin or M or Jane Doe (Jane where are you? we miss you!) can start discussion topics. Only challenge there is it creates the need for a moderator. We cant allow this site to die. Any thought to working with some professors in the school of Arch to make this site a student project for a grade / credit? I would gladly do the leg work on that. Another option is to make it like other blogs where folks like me and Mr Catlin or M or Jane Doe (Jane where are you? we miss you!) can start discussion topics. Only challenge there is it creates the need for a moderator.

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