If you build it, students won't die - Guest column

How many colleges or universities can you name that force more than 80 percent of their students to cross at least four lanes of traffic to get to class?

I'm sure we all have one name on our minds.

Most students here at Johns Hopkins deal with crossing at least one major thoroughfare every day, whether it's North Charles St., Saint Paul St. or University Pkwy. It's part of a daily routine that every student becomes complacent about until some kid gets hit by a car in the "death lane" on Charles St., and then we're up in arms about restructuring the street.

But getting rid of the service lanes and the death lane won't be enough. Students need a route to class that doesn't include yielding to four lanes of drivers speeding to their workplaces. Homewood needs a pedestrian bridge over Charles Street.

For many of us, safety is an issue that was only brought up by over-worried parents during campus tours. Their fears are extinguished with some admission representative telling them how many safety lights we have around campus, and the issue is rarely brought up again. If students walk to 34th St., there's a light, crosswalk and crossing sign. That's enough to get mom and dad to fork over the cash.

Get serious. How many students actually take the time to even look at traffic lights or crossing signs when they go to class? I've seen students pushing that little crossing button maybe twice during my time here. Some students stand in the middle of the street, waiting for the last car to pass, while others try to cross just before the light turns green. Others are on their cell phones, not even paying attention at all.

Some drivers aren't paying attention, either. Most drivers making the right turn from Charles to 33rd don't even know that they have to yield to pedestrians at all times, and most are more than willing to use more than their car horns to voice their displeasure to crossing students.

This isn't a new issue. It's been tossed around the idea bin at Homewood for decades. Now more than ever, it's time to act. The Homewood campus is expanding across North Charles St. more and more every year. In a few years, every student will need to cross the street, whether they're going to class, visiting the bookstore, or going to Hillel's new Smokler Center. The University can no longer point the finger at the city of Baltimore when it comes to improving the surrounding area. Improving the area is what the Charles Village Project is all about.

One concern raised in the past is that locals have put up a fuss about a pedestrian bridge. But can Charles Village residents really raise a significant objection to the idea, other than the fact that Union Memorial will get fewer patients who were hit by cars? Locals and students alike could use the bridges whenever they wanted. Drivers would also be much happier to not have to worry about pedestrians.

Engineering concerns have also been raised, as some say construction would make it difficult to allow large trucks to pass under the pedestrian bridge.

Engineering? Don't we teach that here?

In an April 2003 article, the News-Letter reported that the reconstruction of Charles St. will begin in 2005 and be finished by 2006. Unfortunately, that project is still in the planning stages, and a construction date hasn't even been set. The article also stated that the University was seriously considering a pedestrian bridge. Unfortunately, that consideration is hardly a possibility at this point, as a bridge is not a part of the construction plans.

So take a hint, Hopkins. Look up the street at Loyola. Many students have to cross Charles St., but that far north, it's only two lanes. They still have a pedestrian bridge to ensure student safety. Look at the University of Pennsylvania. They've got bridges. The University of Delaware isn't even in a real city, and they too have pedestrian bridges.

Hopkins is working with the city and other organizations, albeit slowly, to make Charles St. a safer place. But until students are guaranteed secure passage around a rapidly expanding campus, it's hard to believe that student safety is really a primary concern at Homewood.

Jeff Katzenstein is the Features Editor of the News-Letter.