New Pedestrian-Only Walkway

Students set to study abroad question an implemented feeMeghan McLaughlin The Santa Clara September 28, 2017Franklin Street is getting a major facelift in the form of a new pedestrian walkway.A project that was conceptualized back in 2012, the Franklin Street revision finally began just after graduation in June 2017.The project is located on the north side of campus, stretching from the Alameda beyond where Alviso Street intersects with Franklin Street.Additionally, it extends up Alviso Street to the Jesuit Community parking garage.Don Akerland, Director of Planning and Projects at University Operations, is the project manager on the pedestrian mall that will soon make its way onto what is currently Franklin Street.“By creating this pedestrian area, it provides a stronger connection to the main part of campus and creates a safer area for crossing to those facilities north of Franklin Street,” Akerland said.This area will also serve as more space for university events, as well as the City of Santa Clara community activities.According to Akerland, this is the perfect time to put the new walkway in place since the land has been purchased and construction has concluded on the Edward M. Dowd Art and Art History Building.The recent move of the building to Franklin Street will place the Department of Art and Art History in close proximity with other Fine Arts departments on campus, such as Theater and Dance, Music, as well as the de Saisset Museum.However, the construction of the walkway has closed off the majority of Franklin Street, inconveniencing some members of the community who used the area for parking.“I’m a music performance minor, so I go to the music building a lot,” said junior Garrett Woodford-Berry. “Because of the construction, I have to park far away in parking labeled one hour so I’m worried I’m going to get a ticket. That’s not long enough for even one class.”This new pedestrian walkway is just the tip of the iceberg, as it is considered phase one of the series of improvements coming to Franklin Street.The next step is extending the project westward to Lafayette Street. There is no solidified timeline for this second phase yet. Construction of the pedestrian walkway is expected to conclude in early November.A faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office said that the building of a pedestrian mall will provide a link between the art building and the Santa Clara station located on Railroad Ave. This station is the planned terminal for the Silicon Valley BART extension into the South Bay, with expected construction completion by 2025.Contact Meghan McLaughlin at mmclaughlin@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852