Conclusion

The purpose of this project was to analyze the transition from the arts campus to the main campus here at Lafayette. The system that is currently in place is inadequate and whether it is the stairs which are terrible condition and are at the inappropriate grade; or the LCAT shuttle service, which contradicts the sustainable agenda the school is actively pursuing; the alternatives currently in place aren’t long term solutions. We decided to consider several alternatives to this problem; the continuation of the LCAT shuttle service, the renovation of the steps currently in place and the construction of an inclined elevator. Another main objective our project was to introduce this problem to the Lafayette community’s consciousness. We felt like to do this as well as produce a tangible product of our efforts, a video would be the best option. The Lafayette College administration has been hesitant in addressing the problem and recognizing its potential dangers to the student body and staff and we believe this is a mistake, especially considering the expansion of the Arts Campus that is underway. A video could be an effective way to bring this issue to light and to get a conversation going. At this point that is the most effective agent for change and hopefully our video will help do just that. We feel that by clearly laying out the problem and the hazards of the situation we can get the ball rolling and set the groundwork for further pushes towards a solution in the future.

We believe one of the primary reasons Lafayette hasn’t addressed the transition between campuses is that not enough students regularly travel to the Arts Campus. In order to get a better idea of the traffic we developed a survey in which 70 students of a diverse background took part. Of that sampling of 70 students, 45% hadn’t even been to the Arts campus. Only 20% said they have used the LCAT shuttle service and 50% said they have used the stairs with the same percentage saying they have driven. This data corroborated the need for change. When half the students are using the run down steps that are in place and the other half are typically driving this directly contradicts the emphasis the school has put on both sustainability and safety.

In order to better compare the different alternatives to one another we evaluated them in terms of six evaluative criteria and found that each alternative had its strengths and weaknesses. The inclined elevator for example while being a memorable experience and an effective solution to the problem, the feasibility in terms of the terrain of the area as well as the potential costs made it an unlikely option for the school to consider. The LCAT shuttle service would be the easiest alternative to implement, given that it is already in place and is therefore very feasible as well as being cost effective, but from an ethical standpoint its continuation contradicts every decision the school has made over the past few years in regards to sustainability and creating a “walking campus”. We decided the step renovation alternative was ultimately the best option from a policy analysis standpoint. Though being somewhat costly, it would not be as costly as an inclined elevator and would be an effective option while also being in line with the sustainable mantra of the school.

From a technical standpoint, the renovation of the steps could present unique challenges. The stairs in place already do not have the appropriate rise to tread ratio and # of landings for outdoor steps. Considering the extreme change in elevation they are traversing, this makes for an exhausting climb up and a treacherous climb down. One of the unique challenges of renovation would be how ADA regulations would be handled. In interviews with decision makers on campus, we found one of the primary reasons the steps hadn’t been renovated already was because of the fear that any renovations would cause these steps to have to be brought up to modern disability access standards, dramatically increasing costs. From a technical standpoint the inclined elevator would also run into its share of issues, namely the terrain of the area. The rocky hillside would cause issues in terms of the connections between the elevator and the hillside and the labor resulting from which would also dramatically increase costs.

From a purely economic standpoint the LCAT shuttle would be the cheapest solution. Though neither Palmeri nor the school would release the amount of the contract, it’s still safe to assume that it is substantially less than the investment required for the elevator and step renovation options. However, the maintenance costs would be high, as would the maintenance costs for the inclined elevator option, which would also require a multi-million dollar initial investment. Though the steps would require a substantial initial investment, not only would the maintenance costs be low, but this alternative eliminates the existing maitainance costs associated with the current stairs.

Throughout the course of our work and research for this project we consulted with many different divisions from the school, as well as outside sources to get an understanding of the situation and who the decision makers are. We consulted with the Palmeri Transportation Company with regards to the shuttle; Inclined Solutions with regards to the inclined elevator and at Lafayette we spoke with the Lafayette Civil Engineering Department, the Office of Planning Services, Plant Operations, and the Art Department.

We are very thankful for the resources that were provided in order for our group to be able to properly assess the issue and work towards coming up with a reasonable solution. Our finish product is the video which will help to raise awareness about this issue and get the conversation started, building the framework for individuals to build on what we’ve accomplished in the future.

Sources

Americans With Disabilities Act. (n.d.). InFormation And Technical Assistance. Retrieved from ada.gov: http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#36403

Balsas, C. L. (2003). Sustainable transportation planning on college campuses. Transport Policy, 10(1), 35

Cassi, S. (2014, June 2). Family of Lafayette College freshman struck by Jeep sues school, crew coaches. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2014/06/family_of_lafayette_college_fr.html

City of Easton and Spillman Farmer Architects Break Ground for First Phase of $31M City Hall and Transportation Center. (2014, January 29). Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/11301729/pa-city-of-easton-and-spillman-farmer-architects-break-ground-for-first-phase-of-31m-city-hall-and-transportation-center

Criado, J. (2009, January 1). Inclined Elevator of Rio de la Pila (Santander). Retrieved October 7, 2014.

Easton Environmental Advisory Council. (2009). Enhancing Easton’s Status as a Walkable Community:An Evaluation of the Third Street Corridor.

Easton, PA Topographic Map. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2014, from https://www.google.com/maps/place/Easton, PA/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x89c46b821870585f:0x37203227748fc82b!5m1!1e4?sa=X&ei=uMuEVIvOFbeNsQTM2YGoCw&ved=0CC

Lafayette College Photostream. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2014, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/lafayette-college

Lundberg, B., & Weber, J. (2014). Non-motorized transport and university populations: an analysis of connectivity and network perceptions. Journal Of Transport Geography, 39165-178. doi:10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2014.07.002

Pavilinsky, N. (2014, October). Third Street Transition. (M. Chiles, Interviewer)

SCUDDER, GAIL. “$35 Million in Construction, Renovation Finished at Lafayette.” The Morning Call. N.p., 22 Jan. 2001. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.

Wilford-Hunt, M. (2014, 12). 3rd Street Connection. (M. Chiles, Interviewer)