In January of 2012, the constant flow of cars along Charles Street will be interrupted by construction, as Baltimore City launches Operation Orange Cone, a beautification project along North Charles Street.
According to the JHU Gazette, the need for renovation along Charles Street was first identified in 1999. However, until recently, specific plans were delayed due to budgetary constraints and design conflicts, as people voiced increasing concerns for pedestrian safety.
Now, in 2011, a project has finally been approved and was set to begin in November of this year, but has been delayed until January of 2012. The current construction in the area is a BGE installation project of a gas line, which must be finished before the larger Charles Street construction can begin.
Once the project begins, renovations will close the streets to through traffic from 25th Street to University Parkway for two years. Individuals with residential parking permits will be allowed to pass through locally, according to Adrienne Barnes from the Baltimore Department of Transportation. Pedestrians will be able to cross the street at any of five designated crossing points located on 29th Street, 31st Street, 33rd Street, 34th Street and University Parkway. Automobile traffic, though, will have to take a detour.
In 2014, a brand new street will open. Two southbound lanes will be separated from two northbound lanes by a large median, and both sides of the street will be restricted to one lane except during times of heavy traffic. This will attempt to slow traffic in a move to become more pedestrian friendly, according to Barnes.
In addition to slowing traffic, safety improvements will include more crosswalks, with visual countdowns and audible signals.
Many dangerous corners, such as the one from Art Museum Drive onto Charles Street, will be redesigned to increase safety.
The beautification aspect of the street will incorporate brick-paved pedestrian areas lined with trees.
A proposed art plaza, funded by the city's Public Art Program, will add sculpture and landscaped gardens to the block between Charles Commons and Wolman Hall, one of the most heavily traversed sections of Charles Street.
The plaza is designed to imitate the four seasons, with seasonally appropriate plants in each section, and the central sculpture is a series of rings set into the ground. Viewed from one angle, they appear as a telescope, and from another, a microscope.
Outside of the art plaza, new trees will be planted along the entire stretch of Charles Street.
Unfortunately, during construction, all the trees along the path will be uprooted to allow for structural renovations. Along with trees, new lighting fixtures will line the streets to increase safety in the area.
The construction itself, though, shouldn't impact student safety. According to Edmund Skrodzki, Campus Safety and Security Executive Director, the planned construction will have minimal impact on security patrols.
Currently, the majority of officers patrol on foot, and others patrol via bicycle, motorized vehicles and segway.
During construction, club cars will be used to cover areas previously patrolled by motorized vehicles. Skrodzki anticipates that the closed streets may even be beneficial to students.
"The overall effect may result in fewer opportunities for those that take advantage of others," Skrodzki said.
According to Barnes, Hopkins has been extremely involved in the planning for the project; the University contributed 2.5 million dollars to the project.
"Without their financial support, we might not have been able to afford this project," Barnes said.
Though Charles Street lies at the eastern edge of the Homewood campus, with study space, dining options and student housing lining both sides of the street, there are few students who can avoid crossing North Charles Street at least once a day, everyday.
"It's a central part of our campus," senior Hannah Phillips said.
Phillips sees these renovations as essential.
"It's a huge problem that's needed to be fixed for a long time," Phillips said. "There have been so many accidents and incidents, so it's good to see the university finally taking action to improve safety conditions on campus."
Phillips isn't surprised by the amount of money that Hopkins is spending.
"It's all for safety; you really can't argue against that," she said.
Senior Toyin Ola agreed that the issue is important, but doesn't look forward to the inconveniences. "Charles Street is a major thoroughfare," she said. "It will be a nightmare when you consider all the traffic that passes through there – the shuttles, the JHMI, the College Town, not to mention commuting students and professors, and even parents during move-in."
Georges Obeid, a freshman who lives in Wolman Hall, must cross Charles Street everyday to get to class, but he isn't fazed by the proposed inconveniences.
"It's for us," he said of the construction. "It will benefit us in the future. It's worth any hardship now."
To accommodate student's concerns, the University has set up a website to keep students and faculty informed of the difference phases of construction.
The website includes a project description and a Frequently Asked Questions page. Follow their updates at www.fm.jhu.edu/charlesstreetconstruction/.
