USM seeks input on campus roadwork

Traffic flow concerns on the Hattiesburg campus of the University of Southern Mississippi are currently being addressed. In January, a committee set up by the President and the Executive Cabinet of the university began to meet to see what could be done about campus traffic flow, and the Traffic and Circulation Flow Ad Hoc Committee is seeking input from students.

The committee has researched many ways to relieve traffic on campus.

“The committee has done what every good committee should do,” said Chris Crenshaw, director of the physical plant. “The Traffic and Circulation Flow Committee has thrown out various ideas for campus traffic relief after months of research and planning, and now they have asked for feedback from the students, faculty and staff of this university.”

The Traffic and Circulation Flow Committee, which is comprised of USM faculty and staff, has spent months researching and working with a contractor in order to discover the best ways in which campus traffic flow and congestion could be eased. The committee has come up with seven different traffic relief plans that are in order from the most-liked plan to the least-liked plan.

“So far I have received a lot of feedback about one of the options, which would require reopening a section of street that has been previously open to public vehicles,” Crenshaw said. “The feedback I have received regarding this option is feedback that definitely feels as if this street should remain closed due to high pedestrian traffic volume. We [the committee] greatly appreciate and listen to those who have taken the time to respond to the options we have thrown to the public. Those responses are bringing up interesting points we may not have seen or noticed before.”

Jordan Swindoll, a senior music education major, expressed his concern for the current traffic flow situation.

“I really attempt to avoid driving around campus if at all possible,” Swindoll said. “Southern Miss is a small campus already and traffic flow is just horrible, especially around the times when students get out of class and are crossing the roads. It can take fifteen minutes of waiting at certain places on campus while waiting for students to cross.”

Swindoll said he is excited and looking forward to what plan the Traffic Flow Committee decides on.

“Even if I’m no longer a student at Southern Miss, I feel as if once the traffic flow situation is handled and addressed properly, it will benefit many Southern Miss pedestrians and drivers to come.”

Crenshaw stressed that this will be a lengthy, well thought out project for the campus that will benefit both pedestrians and vehicle users. He said nothing has been finalized yet, and he highly encourages those who have not viewed the traffic relief flow plans to review them and provide feedback to a member of the committee.