20 Texas A&M International University 2 - ANALYSIS & OBSERVATIONS Pedestrian Conditions - Campus Interior Pedestrian Conditions - Campus Perimeter Pedestrian Network The TAMIU campus has a strong pedestrian core comprised a network of primary, secondary and tertiary pedestrian pathways. These range from the central spine northsouth spine, to a network of connecting pedestrian malls and finally more functional sidewalks as one moves outward from the campus core. The great strength of this element of the design is that it fully excludes vehicles from the campus core, creating a pleasant and safe experience for of the campus. While the majority of people arrive by car to campus, once they have parked and left their vehicle behind, the entire campus is very accessible by a short and enjoyable walk or roll. While the campus core is highly pedestrianized, as one moves ouward the pedestrian network is less connected and lacks basic amenities such as sidewalks along University Boulevard. Large surface parking lots and more limited amenities, such as lighting and trees, reduce the walkability of the campus. As a result, parking lots at the edge, although within a short walk, are underutilized and affiliates complain about the lack of front-door parking access. The surrounding roadway infrastructure (Bob Bullock Loop) creates a high-stress and uncomfortable environment for walking. The 2020 Active Transportation Plan identified “feeling unsafe” as the primary reason Laredo residents do not travel by active transportation. At TAMIU, this sentiment is compounded by the extremely limited street connectivity in the residential neighborhoods of nearby North Laredo, where much of the affiliate population lives. Wide roads with limited built frontage tend to make walking distances feel much bigger than they are. Especially in an area with wide roads and high-speed traffic between the Bob Bullock Loop and University Boulevard, TAMIU’s pedestrian network exhibits strong internal connections but very poor external connectivity.
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