UF and FDOT promote pedestrian and traffic safety 

The fall semester is underway at the University of Florida, which means more students walking, biking or riding scooters in and around campus. 

On Monday, UF and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) came together to promote pedestrian and traffic safety and to encourage safe behaviors among the campus community. 

Representatives from UF, FDOT, the University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) and UF Health gathered at the Newell Gateway at the intersection of Newell Drive and West University Avenue from 10 a.m. to noon to emphasize pedestrian and traffic safety. 

In an interview with Mainstreet, Jacob Pickering, an FDOT spokesperson, said the event is a collaboration between FDOT, UF and UFPD. Held each year around the first week of school, the event reminds students about FDOT’s Target Zero initiative, which aims to reduce traffic-related serious injuries and deaths across Florida to zero, while encouraging students to stay safe. 

“Basically, what’s going on here is a partnership event where we can get right out in front of the students and tell them to drive safe, walk safe, and how to really use the crosswalks that cross University Avenue,” Pickering said. 

During the two-hour event, students learned about crosswalk safety while receiving free safety goodies. UFPD also handed out free bike helmets and lights and offered registration services to help in recovering stolen bikes or scooters. 

Danielle Swenson, a junior majoring in business administration, and Tifanny Souza, a senior majoring in advertising, were among the students who stopped by the event.  

Swenson and Souza both use bicycles to commute around campus and were able to get helmets for their bikes at the event. 

Swenson said she liked the UF and FDOT event, adding that getting the helmet makes her feel safer.  

Souza added that emphasizing the use of crosswalks – especially on busy roads near campus – is important to make sure pedestrians don’t get hurt.  

For safety enhancements, both students said they would like to see improved lighting in dark areas of campus, specifically near the bat houses and the path to the Southwest Recreation Center. 

In an interview with Mainstreet, UFPD Chief Bart Knowles, who was present at the event, said they are continually looking at safety improvements. 

“We’re always going to be looking at different opportunities there to make those differences,” he said, adding there are different projects currently happening on campus. “We’re looking at having a raised crosswalk near our Southwest Recreation Center to try to make some improvements there. So, we’re continually looking at not only identifying those locations [for improvement] but also trying to identify the funding sources to be able to actually see them through fruition.” 

There are also plans to improve University Avenue in the future. 

In partnership with the city of Gainesville, Pickering said FDOT plans to launch four separate projects over the next two years to resurface University Avenue near Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to Waldo Road. 

In addition to the resurfacing, Pickering said there will be added safety enhancements, including new crosswalks, drainage improvements, new signage and pavement markings.  

Pickering said a new pedestrian crosswalk is being proposed for the area near the Matheson History Museum. 

FDOT is hosting public meetings next week on the proposed improvements to University Avenue. A virtual meeting will start with an open house from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and an in-person meeting will be held with an open house from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Matheson (513 E. University Ave., Gainesville).  

Each meeting will include a presentation followed by public comment.

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.