Phase II of Raymond Avenue work set to begin

Brian Farkas News Editor

The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) will begin preparations for Phase II of the Raymond Avenue Reconstruction Project over winter break.

Plans to renovate Raymond Avenue—also known as State Road 376—have been in place since 1999. Complaints of slick and poorly maintained concrete prompted the DOT to begin detailed traffic studies. These studies determined that the previous four-lane structure of the avenue encouraged drivers to break speeding regulations, causing accidents.

Without enough traffic to justify four lanes, the DOT transformed Raymond Avenue into a two-lane road and installed stoplights. This plan, however, also encouraged drivers to speed from light to light, resulting in additional accidents. Finally, in Winter 2006, Raymond Avenue was entirely redesigned with two roundabouts.

Phase II will add a third larger roundabout to Raymond Avenue, intersecting with Collegeview Avenue. Collegeview will also undergo extensive changes.

Vassar, the DOT and Central Hudson recently negotiated a deal to run power lines running from the Alumnae/i House to the other side of Raymond entirely underground. “The utility poles are very unattractive now,” said Eismeier. “This will be a much better solution.”

“These roundabouts encourage more self-management of traffic,” said Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier. “Drivers are forced to slow down and examine their surroundings, and it has proved effective in the last year in reducing speeding and accidents.” The project is being completed in two phases partly to show Poughkeepsie residents, many of whom initially opposed the plan, that these roundabouts can indeed help the traffic flow.

“We’ve been through a lot of meetings with Town of Poughkeepsie representatives, politicians, board members, people from the business community—people seem to be in general agreement about this plan,” said Eismeier. “Phase II does not seem to be nearly as political and contentious an issue as Phase I was.”

Additionally, Collegeview Avenue will be broadened, with two single traffic lanes going in each direction. Parallel parking on both sides of the street will also replace the current head-in parking. A downside to this construction will be a net loss of parking spaces. “Reaction to this in the Business District has been mixed,” said Eismeier.

“Especially in the holiday shopping season, some owners are worried,” added Horst. To alleviate this problem, New York State will take the empty lot between the Post Office and the Wash and Dry Laundromat to give customers a place to park. The empty space between Sushi Village and other businesses will also be cleared and converted into parking.

To help, Vassar intends to add 18 parking spaces to North Lot over spring break. These spaces will be permanent, Horst said.

In order to prepare for the reconstruction, many of the trees on the north edge of campus along Collegeview Avenue will be cleared, and Central Hudson will begin relocating power cords and utility poles. Eventually, the northwest gate – the College gate directly across from the Juliet Café – will be moved back 45 feet, creating a small plaza. “The red bricks will be rebuilt,” said Director of Faculty Housing and Special Projects Jeffrey Horst, “and we were even thinking about putting the ‘VC’ logo on the ground.”

Though the roadwork and landscaping are financed entirely by the DOT, they have sparked a number of independent projects at Vassar.

“With this roadwork on Collegeview, the way that people enter the College is going to be different,” said Horst. “We’ll be looking at ways to make the north edge of campus more inviting, probably by putting in and rejuvenating some of the shabby paths that exist there now.”

One walkway that will probably see a facelift over Summer 2008 will be the path from the northwest gate to Josselyn House, located behind the tennis courts.

“This is part of a larger effort to change the way that Vassar interacts with the community,” Eismeier said. “Though we think that the small brick gates are an attractive part of our history and collegiate image, that chain link fence is shabby and frankly, ugly. It makes Vassar looks exclusive.”

In addition to the aesthetics of the north edge of campus, safety has been a concern. “That area is so spooky at night,” said Horst. “Back by the gravel path, those pine trees really block a lot of the light, making it very dark.” The renovations to the area will add additional lamps, as well as increasing natural light by removing some of the excess trees and shrubbery. Once sidewalks are repaved, walking and jogging will also be much safer.

These landscaping projects are being actively discussed by the North Edge of Campus Subcommittee of the Master Planning Committee. Andrew Bennett ’09 is the student representative on the subcommittee.

“The upcoming work on the north edge of the campus will be an enormous improvement in transitioning from the so-called ‘Vassar Bubble’ to the community,” he said. “After Phase II is complete, walking to Arlington will be easier, safer and less of an ordeal.”

Bennett said that this project has many long-term benefits. “I think students understand that the greater benefit to the community outweighs the cost of cutting down trees,” he said. “Concerns about security are also valid, but students should recognize that criminals can come onto our campus whether the chain link fence is there or not.”

Eismeier was also excited for the projects that Phase II will prompt on campus. “This is going to be a huge improvement in terms of community relations, safety and aesthetics,” she said. “It’s important to remember, though, that this is not a Vassar project—it’s a state project. The College is merely doing things in reaction to these state highway renovations. When the DOT thinks that a decision they’re making will affect Vassar, we have meetings and make decisions and compromise wherever possible.”