FAQs on the Intermodal Transporation Concept
Q: Is it true that campus will be closed to cars?
A: No. Campus will not be closed to cars.
Q: Will I be able to access my core campus parking space?
A: Yes. You will probably find more available parking in your assigned parking area than you do now, thanks to restrictions that may be placed on unauthorized parking in key areas.
Q: Will this plan diminish the number of parking spaces in the core campus?
A: No. Thanks to the expansion of Nittany and Eisenhower decks, the number of spaces in the core campus will increase.
Q: Will faculty and staff be forced to park on the periphery of campus?
A: No. Peripheral parking will be offered as an optional alternative to core campus parking for those who wish to take advantage of a much lower monthly parking rate, and who are willing to ride transit from their parking area to the core campus. Peripheral parking will also be used during times of construction on decks in the core campus; but any such inconvenience will be temporary, and will result in improved core parking for the long term.
Q: Where will commuting students park?
A: Commuting students will either park in the lots on the edge of campus(also open to faculty and staff), or ride transit, bike, or walk.
Q: Will campus be closed to CATA regional busses?
A: Penn State works closely with CATA to determine optimal means to achieve mutual goals. It is not yet determined whether CATA regional busses will best serve all constituents by maintaining current cross-campus routes or by entering campus, stopping at a transit transfer station, and exiting campus.
Q: How will the Shortlidge Mall work? What exactly will be closed, and during what hours?
A: This concept proposes closure of Shortlidge between the parking entrance behind Ritenour and the south entrance to the Eisenhower parking area. This is a very short distance, but an important one in terms of pedestrian safety: in 1997, our master planners clocked 23,000 pedestrian crossings here in an 8-hour period, with 50 near-misses between pedestrians and automobiles. Making this zone "pedestrian first" will significantly enhance pedestrian safety with a small inconvenience for vehicles, which will be diverted one block from Shortlidge to Bigler for full north-south access through campus. At this point it seems most prudent to maintain this through-traffic closure full-time to maximize pedestrian safety in this zone.
Q: How will the Curtin Road Transitway work? Will this be open to all forms of transit? During what hours will it be restricted?
A: The Intermodal Transportation Concept proposes that Curtin Road from Allen to Bigler be restricted to transit. At this point the Curtin Road Transitway restriction is being considered for the similar hours that Pollock Road restriction exists now: during the daytime, Monday through Friday. During those hours, public transit vehicles will be authorized to use this section of Curtin Road, including the Loops and Link, faculty/staff and visitor shuttles as well as visitor busses to the Palmer Museum and other public venues. CATA regional busses will likely traverse this stretch as well; Penn State and CATA will jointly make this decision as cross-campus routes are reviewed and refined.
All of Curtin Road will be open to all vehicles in the evening and on the weekend.
Q: How will public destinations be accessed, especially the arts venues (Palmer, Eisenhower, Schwab, Playhouse, Pavilion, etc.)?
A: This question warrants some detail regarding each venue:
Palmer Museum:
During hours of restricted access, visiting busses will continue to use the proposed Curtin Road Transitway for visitor drop-off in front of the Palmer. Private vehicles may drop off patrons in a redesigned parking lot behind the Palmer Museum. Some visitor parking may be included in the new faculty/staff lot adjacent the Pavilion Theatre; additional visitor parking will function the same as all visitor parking in the core campus: visitors are directed to the closest parking deck.
Eisenhower Auditorium:
Access from Shortlidge and from Bigler will be maintained, and vehicles will still exit onto both those roads. The only changes will be that visitors coming up Shortlidge from the south will turn right at Pollock and proceed to Bigler to access Eisenhower; and vehicles leaving Eisenhower will not turn left (south) on Shortlidge.
Schwab Auditorium:
The Pollock Road kiosks are currently planned to operate during the same hours as the existing gates do now (7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.). Parking for events in Schwab will not change from the current condition.
Playhouse Theatre:
No change from the current condition. Evening after-hours parking will still be open to all in the vicinity of the Playhouse.
Pavilion Theatre:
No change from the current condition. Evening after-hours parking will still be open to all in the vicinity of the Pavilion.
One other popular destination will have improved access: the Creamery will move one block to the east, and will be adjacent to the new East Deck.
Q: How will drop-offs be addressed, whether of people or objects?
A: This is a question that has arisen in discussions of the Intermodal Transportation Concept. Refinement of the concept will include focused attention on addressing this issue.
Q: This plan seems to be primarily about cars, busses, and pedestrians. What about bicycles?
A: In this plan we are principally working on ways to reduce auto and bus congestion. Penn State planners and expert consultants will now work with BUG (Bicycle Users Group) and CRBC (Centre Region Bicycle Coalition) to refine our current bicycle master plan to effectively integrate bicycles into the Intermodal Transportation Concept plan.
Q: With all the proposed road restrictions, how will ADA access be addressed?
A: Penn State is committed to providing ADA access. Any restricted roadway will continue to permit ADA access at all times.
Q: How will deliveries be addressed to buildings where access is restricted?
A: Delivery needs will be addressed in refinement of the Intermodal Transportation Concept.
Q: If this plan is implemented, will there be a traffic impact on neighboring municipalities?
A: Penn State's goal is to manage traffic on campus in sync with municipal efforts to address traffic challenges. We do not intend to make transportation changes on campus at the expense of the municipal network. The Intermodal Transportation Concept will continue to develop with input from-and we hope in partnership with-our municipal neighbors so that we can develop useful strategies to jointly manage regional transportation challenges.
It is worth noting that, if the Intermodal Transportation Concept is implemented, a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) will be submitted for each individual project within the whole strategy. This process ensures that Penn State's municipal neighbors will have further opportunity to review and assess any traffic impacts. And, as prescribed by the municipal development process, Penn State would be required to mitigate any impacts beyond a pre-determined level.