By WMBD TV
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Illinois State University and the town of Normal partnered to host their final community engagement event regarding their campus safety initiative on Tuesday.
The Pedestrian and Roadway Campus Safety Initiative consists of “quick build” projects, which are easy things they can do to improve safety. These have been in place for many months now, and the team has been collecting community input and data over time.
Monday night marked the last engagement event, where the team shared their recommendations with the community about the quick build projects.
“We’re wrapping up the feedback stage of this initiative, and we’re trying to look at solidifying some recommendations that can be made at these locations, especially where we have quick build projects,” said Adam McCrary, director of environmental health and safety for ISU.
While they are still working on recommendations for some projects, others have already been implemented permanently.
“Some of these quick build projects actually turn into permanent projects like the four-way stop on Broadway and Beaufort, which will remain in place, as well as some of the bumps in the road to extend turning lanes and bump curbs out. Those will stay in place as well,” McCrary said.
The closure of School Street between College Avenue and Mulberry Street has received a lot of mixed feedback. The team is still trying to decide what to do with the area.
“That’s one of the locations where we’re looking at possibly doing some construction activities to make that intersection safer, which was highlighted at the campus safety showcase,” he said.
Ultimately, the team can only do so much to increase safety on campus. McCrary said that safety also depends on the individual.
“One of the highlights that came out when I was talking to people, doing multiple interviews with the campus community members, was that everyone is responsible for their own safety,” he said. “It’s important that people consider that whenever they’re commuting, whether it’s on foot, on a bike, or in a vehicle, they are responsible for their own safety.”
WMBD was first reported on this story. The original story can be found online at CIProud.com.
