As its monthly meeting Tuesday, the Louisiana Board of Regents approved a measure to create a traffic roundabout on campus as well as the current year operating budget for all higher education institutions in the state.
The roundabout will be located at the intersections of Dalrymple Drive, West Lakeshore Drive and Issac Cline Drive.
The project is part of the second phase of the Easy Streets campaign, which began in 2007. The project seeks to “make core streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists to and from classes and appointments without the congestion of traffic,” according to the plan.
Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, said the roundabout will keep traffic moving at the oddly-shaped intersection.
“The roads don’t really line up in that area,” Graham said. “The roundabout will alleviate some of the congestion and keep traffic moving. It will also slow down traffic.”
He estimated the project to be complete by late spring. It will cost the University $486,000 and will utilize auxiliary funds. There are also plans to install a welcome sign in the area.
In other business, the board approved current year operating budgets for all higher education institutions. LSU’s operating budget is approximately $445,000. The total higher education budget is $2.9 billion.
Interim LSU System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins said the University saved money this year by consolidating several academic units.
“Many departments that should have been consolidated long ago didn’t for a number of reasons,” Jenkins said. “But those reasons have dissipated now because the budget situation has become critical. These things take time and we are out of time.”
During the meeting, Jim Purcell, commissioner of higher education, outlined damages to the state’s higher education institutions. The LSU System sustained $771,765 in damages. The damages in the University of Louisiana System were the highest in the state at $1.72 million.
The meeting wrapped up with a presentation by Charles Schroeder, a senior consultant with higher education consulting firm Noel-Levitz.
Schroeder stressed that Universities need to be more efficient and receive big returns on their investments.
“At this point, it isn’t possible to do more with less,” he said. “We really need to be doing less with less better.”
“The roundabout will alleviate some of the congestion and keep traffic moving. It will also slow down traffic.”
