Quote:
Originally Posted by Chriscross309
The issue isn't Beechurst we are discussing. Sunnyside is made up of city streets which right now barely meet traffic demands. That is lack of city planning, and you can't expect the state to have to pay for that. The city should have thought ahead of time in order to prevent the mess which is to come from allowing WVU to build a massive residential complex in an area with inadequate roads. Beechhurst is a mess and does need expanded, but traffic issues need assessed up the hill as well.
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WVU absolutely must insure that their housing options are competitive with other national, doctoral level universities. It is taking the steps it needs to take to insure that is the case, and often private developers are either helping them do it, or they are simply doing it themselves. In the case of The University, the city has absolutely nothing to do with it. They lack any authority to be involved in that process, but the school does seek to take their input into account.
Traffic is always going to be slow through the Downtown Campus area. Everyone understands that. There are many thousands of pedestrians walking around there, crossing the streets and so forth. There really isn't much that can be done about that. Sunnyside is essentially an extension of the Downtown Campus. It has always been primarily student centered. Beechurst is another matter altogether. Since that is part of the numbered highway system, it is absolutely the state's responsibility, and much of the problem involved with side street traffic is the result of traffic not being able to get onto Beechurst without extensive waits. If the state does it job, and it is definitely their job to take care of Beechurst, expand it to meet demonstrated needs, and maintain it, then much of Sunnyside's traffic problem will be solved. Will it ever flow totally smoothly on the side streets? I highly doubt it. Having some congestion in residential areas is one of the costs involved with having a large university located in your city that employs, directly and indirectly through affiliates, 14,000 of your residents. Most of us residents understand that, and accept that as part of life.
One thing to keep in mind though. Although The U. intends to slightly increase the freshman class over time, they intend to primarily grow through 2+2 initiatives and through major graduate student growth for research purposes. That is likely to have very limited effect on Sunnyside as except for 500 or so undergraduates, most of the growth will be upper classmen and graduate students. It will also have very limited effect on the entering classes of other institutions in the state. One thing it will do though... it will enable the school to be more selective with entering freshmen over time.
We absolutely love the wonderful benefits of having West Virginia University located here... the first rate athletics, the great employment opportunities, the business for the downtown and outside areas, the outstanding arts scene, and the educational and recreational opportunities. The vast majority of us will also be thrilled as the school increases enrollment to maintain their competitive position with peer national institutions, and that is certain to come. With that will be some additional congestion in residential areas, but with that also will come even better employment opportunities and more business activity for our growing and prosperous area. There will be some bumps and lurches along the way, but if the state does its job with infrastructure things will go a whole lot smoother for everyone.
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