As part of the improvements underway on University Drive, TCU’s Veterans Plaza will be reworked to improve pedestrian safety along this prominent corridor, while enhancing visibility and awareness of the Veterans Memorial. Additional landscaping will be added, and the crosswalk at this mid-block crossing will be eliminated.
Construction has begun to widen this and other walkways in front of campus crosswalks. Signals will be added to provide protected walks at the intersections of both W. Bowie and Princeton streets, and improved signals will be installed at W. Cantey Street and the primary crosswalk in front of the Intellectual Commons.
Improvements will include the crosswalks being lit red from below when crossing is not safe.
“This feature is meant to draw the attention of any pedestrians looking down, for instance, on their phones and add another layer of caution,” said Morgan McGlothlin, project manager. “These are popular internationally, such as in the Netherlands and Shanghai. The city of Fort Worth has been interested in integrating this feature, so TCU was happy to step up and be a pioneer for this.”
Additional safety features include new light poles for better lighting on the sidewalks and turn lanes that will better direct drivers on University.
Sidewalk and lane closure updates can be found on the TCU Parking website, and construction is scheduled to conclude before the fall semester begins.