Current Issues in Journalism

West Campus road is guaranteed to have numerous students walking to campus at any point during the day the only problem is not getting hit by a car when trying to cross the street.
The lack of a crosswalk at West Campus road and Stratford which many college students cross every day makes walking to campus a danger. Many students who live in fraternities and sororities use that intersection to cross over West Campus road to get to school. However, it is a hazard when cars are flying down that street and wont stop for anyone. It is also the closest intersection for students walking to JRP.
David, the gentleman who answers the phone for the Traffic Engineering Division of the City of Lawrence, said, “That intersection has been discussed before. However, was denied by the city of Lawrence traffic commission as well as the campus police. If a cross walk was put there students would still cross up and down the street not just at the cross walk. There has been discussion however of putting a raised crosswalk at that intersection but it would take funding from the City and KU.”
The Traffic Engineering Division, which is responsible for signal maintenance, signal timing, street signs and pavement markings, can be reached by phone at 785-832-3034.
When asked how a cross walk would make sense at that location because it is a frequently used intersection as well as being located just south of a bus stop, David said “that it had all been taken into consideration but the City doesn’t feel like a cross walk is the proper solution.”
Many students feel differently, however, when asked about the problem of crossing over West Campus Road at Stratford, Ali Landi, a student at the University of Kansas and a frequent pedestrian at the intersection, said “ I think that it is a hazard and numerous times I have seen students almost get hit by cars. I think that a crosswalk would be the perfect solution to the dangerous situation.”