Intermodal Concept Details

Parking

An important component of this concept is the addition of parking at the east and west edges of campus. This parking alternative would be available to all campus commuters (faculty, staff, students) at a much lower monthly rate than core campus parking. Those who choose this option would reach their campus destinations by an enhanced, efficient transit link.

Visitor parking would be located primarily in core campus decks. Visitors would obtain information on the deck nearest their destination at the Visitor Center, existing campus kiosks, and proposed new kiosks.

Pollock Road

• Kiosks at each end of Pollock Road would both control vehicular access to this pedestrian-oriented area, and provide information to visitors.
• All parking lots in this vicinity would be accessed by passing through one of the kiosks - including Brown A (behind Willard, Steidle, Deike, and Reber). Brown A Lot egress would occur via Burrows Road.

With this strategy, unauthorized use of these parking lots will diminish, providing much needed spaces for authorized vehicles; the number of cars on Pollock will be reduced, aiding pedestrian safety; and visitors will find helpful information and directions at the kiosks.

Pollock Road Kiosks

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  East Kiosk Concept

  The east kiosk would be located between Ritenour and Grange buildings. Authorized vehicles would have an "express lane" entry, while all other vehicles would stop at the kiosk. Visitors directed to a parking destination would obtain a pass then circle around the kiosk, back to Shortlidge Road and to their destinations
   
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  West Kiosk Concept

  The west kiosk would function in the same manner. It would be located so as not to conflict with the West Halls/Steidle axis or the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity access
   

Curtin Road

Curtin Road would be transit only from Allen to Bigler. This would entail some parking changes:

• ADA parking at Pattee would remain
• Current parking at Weaver would move to the Arts Cottage lot. Access to this lot would be from Shortlidge Road.

Transit transfer stations at the ends of the transitway would allow riders to change among regional CATA buses, Loops and Link.

This strategy would significantly enhance transit efficiency.

Transit Transfer Stations

One spot under consideration for a transfer station is adjacent to Fisher Plaza. The concept includes:

• Designated pull-offs for different transit lines
• Bus shelters with amenities for rider convenience and comfort
• The possibility of bike storage facilities so that people can bus to campus, then bike.

Shortlidge Mall

The area of Shortlidge Road near the Thomas Building is a major pedestrian crossing zone. Penn State's master planners clocked 23,000 pedestrian crossings here in a 9-hour period in 1997, with 50 near misses between pedestrians and vehicles. That number has increased and will continue to do so, thanks to the Thomas Building addition and the Chemistry and Life Sciences buildings, under construction.

Chemistry and Life Sciences are designed to bridge over Shortlidge at the 3rd and 4th levels, creating a dramatic gateway. The area between that bridge and the Ritenour parking lot is proposed as a "pedestrian first" mall. Bike lanes are also under consideration here, to enhance north-south bicycle circulation on campus