In response to Mr. Myers April 7 letter to the editor regarding the landscape enhancement project that is in progress on Nicholson Drive, I would like to offer the following clarification:
LSU applied for and was awarded a Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) grant to enhance the landscape corridor along Nicholson Drive from Burbank to Skip Bertman Drive. These grants provide 95 percent of the funding for the project, and LSU provides a 5 -percent match. Since 2000, we have been awarded $1.5 million in TEP grants, and we have used funding to enhance some areas and to build pedestrian and bike paths that allow students, faculty and staff to safely travel around campus.
As one of the premier entrance routes to the campus, Nicholson Drive will receive much-needed landscape, drainage and irrigation improvements as a result of this grant. The berms were added at no cost with recycled soil from construction projects. The soil has been amended with sand to allow controlled parking so we can eliminate the stress of parking under the oak trees. The walkway was introduced to help promote safe pedestrian passage onto campus.
The LSU Master Plan has designated this corridor as a permanent green space, and as the plants mature, a new attractive setting for the southwest campus entrance will be established. Facility Services believes that a beautiful campus leaves a lasting impression on visitors and does play an important role in the recruitment of new students and faculty members.
You may be assured that LSU is dedicated to being good stewards of the resources we are allocated, and we work very hard to find efficient ways, such as grants, to maintain our buildings and provide an aesthetically pleasing campus. TEP grant dollars can only be spent on approved projects and cannot be spent for any other purpose. We share your budget concerns and our staff will continue to look for innovative ways to maintain and beautify our campus.
Tammy Millican
Communications Manager,
LSU Office of Facility Services