Proposal aims to curb cars on campus

Over the next few years, Ohio State will begin making its Columbus campus easier to get around for drivers and pedestrians.

Jeff Kaplan, senior vice president of Administration and Planning, has proposed a plan that will alleviate traffic and ultimately lead to fewer cars on campus.

In addition to less vehicle traffic at the core of campus, the change would "ease congestion, while still allowing emergency vehicles, and special access when needed," Kaplan said.

To initiate the plan, the university would stop creating new parking on campus and use what is already available, said Sarah Blouch, director of Transportation and Parking.

"We have to try to take the core of campus and try to make it more friendly to get around," Blouch said. "We're looking for ways for people to get here — on buses, more partnerships with COTA, carpooling."

Although the plan is in the early stages, changes are already in the works. Transportation and Parking officials hope to add another CABS route and a bus route from the South Campus Gateway to the campus area.

"It's likely to be incremental changes," Kaplan said. "It's not like one day no vehicles will be on campus. Maybe folks at the hospital will park farther away to allow more patient parking. They'll most likely be incentives for folks willing to park farther away. To some degree there already has been some change and there will be additional changes just to improve the way people get around."

With 70,000 to 75,000 cars driving through campus a day and about 40,000 parking passes sold a year, OSU will always have parking on campus. Blouch said those who do not have the option to use alternative modes of transportation on campus will probably always have a parking space.

"Change is going to happen and hopefully it will make it a better place," Blouch said. "Everyone will get where they're going and have alternatives. The goal is to make it better."