The University of Tampa installed a no left turn sign outside of West Parking Garage on North Boulevard to prevent gridlock during busy traffic times. This change has caused mixed feelings among the student body.
“I think it is very inefficient… and it makes a big traffic jam having to turn right and then turn all the way around to go down North Boulevard, ” said Stephen Carse, a sophomore pre-dental major.
Students were told about the traffic pattern change in a global message sent out during the third week of school.
Linda Devine, Vice President of Operations and Planning, explained that in a meeting over the summer, the Campus Safety Committee came up with the idea to put in the no left turn sign.
“For some time (more than a year) we had been monitoring the West Parking Garage/North Boulevard/Straz Hall area as we had numerous concerns raised about the interaction between pedestrians and vehicles,” Devine said via email. “We said at that time, let’s just try to see if having no left turn can make a difference.”
Drivers would have access to West Cass Street and major highways by turning left out of the garage.
“It’s very inconvenient for me because I live in Vintage [Lofts] so it’s much easier to avoid Kennedy and to go left and then take Cass to Vintage.” said Kim Hartford, a senior advertising and public relations major.
Devine understands that the sign isn’t helpful for student drivers. “We do know that during peak periods, no left turns are not helpful to some. One has to drive through campus via North B Street or proceed to Willow which intersects with Cass Street,” Devine said.
Some students find the sign to be more convenient. “I believe the no left turn sign is an awesome idea because it really speeds up traffic,” said Evan Williamson, a senior marketing major. “If I did have to make a left, I would be kind of upset because it is kind of out of the way if you have to turn right but since I go right anyway it’s awesome and it works out for me perfectly.”
Despite the inconvenience it causes for drivers, Devine has seen how the sign has appeared to help.
“But at least for right now we have less near misses between vehicles and people and we are making traffic move along on North Boulevard,” Devine said.
Students have said it is difficult to see how the sign is helping because traffic is being moved to one side of the street.
“It’s an inconvenience and there’s no sense of pushing all the traffic toward West Kennedy. They’re just jamming up everything,” said Tyler Sikora, a sophomore communication major.
Other students are not bothered by the sign and think it is helping the traffic problem.
“I think it’s rather convenient especially during like, 3 or 4 o’clock because it makes traffic more fluid and not as hectic. It’s just easier for everyone else in my opinion,” said Carlos Montero, a junior allied health major.
In terms of enforcement, Devine said that drivers could turn left coming out of the garage, but encourages students to abide by it during the peak traffic periods.
“So it’s not like big brother’s going to be sitting there watching every car come out of the garage,” said Devine. “But during that peak period we really have to help because it’s a huge time for not only the city traffic, but the education related traffic going up and down the street and you know we want to be good citizens…”
The sign was the solution that seemed right at the time, and it will be evaluated at the end of the semester, according to Devine. In addition to the sign, Campus Safety Officers are present to help direct traffic during peak periods in the late afternoon hours between 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. Devine will meet with offices on campus to begin discussing the effectiveness of the sign and other traffic changes put in place for this semester in November.
Miranda Palumbo can be reached at miranda.palumbo@spartans.ut.edu