The East Campus traffic safety arm project is not yet completed but has begun operating to protect pedestrians from careless drivers.
The arms will be in complete operation after a card reader that will allow faculty to open the arms with their ID cards is installed. A completion date for the installation of the ID card readers hasn’t been set yet.
Head of Security Erik Fricke, who has been in charge of the whole project, said that there is no rush to get it going.
The arms will not only protect pedestrians walking towards the bridge and La Playa Stadium, but will control the amount of vehicles coming in and out of parking lot 1-B.
“Students tend to drive fast and are not as cautious around pedestrians,” Fricke said. “We’ve had a few very close calls with cars and pedestrians.”
There are two arms, one for faculty and one for students, carpoolers and others.
The ID card readers will work the same way as the locks on the classroom doors. The person who has a key card holds it up in front of the ID card reader and the arm will automatically open.
An ID card is not the same as a student ID card.
“[The arm] it’s a little unneeded,” said Taylor Baruh, Computer Information major. “Student drivers are responsible enough to not be speeding.”
Students who park in lot 1-B by La Playa Stadium between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. are ticketed. After 5:30 p.m. the 1-B lot is open to students.
After the project is finished, faculty and carpoolers will be the only ones able to park in parking lot 1-B between 7 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.
The project was supposed to be completed during winter break but was delayed because of the roundabout being built on East Campus.
The completion date for the project was postponed to spring break and then delayed again because of the removal of some of the portable East Campus Classrooms.
The arms were put into place, but not completely installed on Thursday, April 3. Many students haven’t noticed the arms yet.
Despite the new security arms, security will still have officers working in the kiosk from 6.50 a.m. to 10 p.m.
