Feburary 5 2014

Page 1

VOLUME 103, ISSUE 52

www.UniversityStar.com

WEDNESDAY

Defending the First Amendment since 1911

FEBRUARY 5, 2014

VIDEO | UniversityStar.com

OPINIONS | Page 4

Coca-Cola Controversy: Students expressed their opinions about the controversy surrounding CocaCola’s recent Super Bowl advertisement.

The Main Point: Failure to delay classes left commuters out in the cold last Tuesday.

TRANSPORTATION

Carpool permits in higher demand Numbers up this academic year due to commuter increase By Rebecca Banks News Reporter

The number of carpool permits issued to Texas State students has increased since last year due to a growing number of commuters, according to administrators. Last year the university issued a total of 50 carpool permits to students. In fall 2013, 72 permits were issued, and 52 permits were issued this spring with eight permits pending. The university is expected to receive more requests in the next few months, said Linda Rea, administrative assistant for Transportation Services. Nancy Nusbaum, interim director of Transportation Services, said the increase in carpool permits could be due to commuters from Austin and San Antonio purchasing them to after the Bobcat Tram Interurban bus service was canceled last spring. Students may also be trying to avoid paying price for a parking permit, she said. The university recently added four additional carpool parking spots to the lot in front of the university president’s house in West Campus following requests from commuters, said Stephen Prentice, assistant director of Parking Services.

Allison Brouillette | Staff Photographer Construction on N. LBJ Drive directly in front of Root Cellar Café is scheduled for completion this fall. Kyle Mylius, owner, said the restaurant’s sales have recently decreased 15 to 20 percent.

CONSTRUCTION

Downtown business owners reporting drop in sales due to ongoing N. LBJ construction By Kelsey Bradshaw

Senior News Reporter

M Danielle Charles | Staff Photographer The number of carpool permits issued to Texas State students has increased from 50 in the 2012-2013 school year to 124 this year. “If they want to park in our carpool lot and we have three areas on campus that are designated for carpool, then they have to get a permit,” Nusbaum said. “As long as they have a regular parking permit, we’ll give them a free carpool designation permit.” The president’s lot has 17 carpool parking spots. There are 17 parking spots in the central carpool lot located on Elm Street and 19 parking spaces in the east lot on Sessom Drive, Prentice said. “I think the president’s lot sees a lot more traffic,” said Cody DeSalvo, intern for Transportation Services. Students are required to purchase a perimeter parking permit for their vehicle and complete the carpool request form online, DeSalvo said. This spring 2014 semester, 30 permits were given out for the president’s lot, 10 were issued for the Elm Street lot and 12 were given for the Sessom lot. In fall 2013, 32 carpool parking permits were issued in the president’s lot, 13 were given in the Elm Street lot and 27 permits were issued for the Sessom lot, Prentice said. Although each parking lot issues more permits than

See PERMITS, Page 6

any business owners on North LBJ Drive and Hutchison Street say they have experienced a decrease in sales since August due to construction covering much of their property, reducing foot traffic in the downtown area. Phase 1 of the Downtown Reconstruction Project Phase I began in August 2012 and is slated for completion this fall, according to the City of San Marcos website. As part of the 2014 plans for the project, the west side of North LBJ Drive from Hopkins to Concho Streets is temporarily closed for reconstruction for the next two to three months. The north half of East Hutchison Street is temporarily shut down for street and sidewalk construction as well.

Root Cellar Café As a result of the construction, Kyle Mylius, owner of Root Cellar Café, said the restaurant’s sales have decreased about 15 to 20 percent, and parking has become an issue. “There’s been a substantial parking problem downtown for a long time, and when you add a project on top of this and remove so many spots, a lot of people skip downtown because they don’t want to deal with the delay of finding a spot,” Mylius said. Despite any parking difficulties, city officials have kept the Root Cellar informed and up-to-date with the construction schedule, Mylius said.

Stellar Café The restaurant has experienced a loss in sales since the construction began, said owner Michael Kelton. The Café, having opened last year, gained a few regular customers before construction workers began to occupy the streets, he said. “(The city was) really good about letting us know when stuff was coming,” Kelton said. “I’m not sure, had I known that it would take over a year, if I would have jumped in and done this.” Kelton is also co-owner of The Stratosphere Lounge, which has remained stable during the construction. Stratosphere is a more established business on The Square, having been around for eight years, Kelton said.

been happening lately, (pedestrians) are not wanting to walk down a dark alley or walk where no one else is walking,” Fox said. “That’s hindered (Showdown) at night for business.” Although some business owners in the area have reported positive city interaction regarding construction, Fox said officials have not yet contacted the venue. “We were warned in the sense that it’s going to happen and there’s nothing we can do about it,” Fox said. Employees have had to call the city for updates on the project.

City input

City officials have been notifying San Marcos businesses about the project since plans were finalized and construction began, said Samantha Armbruster, Main Street Program Showdown Manager. “We definitely go out of our way Showdown on Hutchison has seen a reduction in business from older cli- and above and beyond to make sure entele during the construction, said that we notify as many people as posbartender Andrew Fox. Construction sible,” Armbruster said. “We’re pretty workers have been parking sideways, much in constant contact (with the taking up six spots at a time, deterring businesses).” The city has an “open door” poltraffic from Showdown, Fox said. “With a dark, unlit construction icy, welcoming business owners to zone and the rise in crime that’s come in and give their input directly, Armbruster said. The 23-month-long reconstruction We were warned in the sense that project is designed to make several it’s going to happen and there’s aesthetic and functional improvements to the downtown area including nothing we can do about it.” the replacement and addition of water —Andrew Fox, lines and the implementation of new Showdown bartender traffic signals, according to the city’s website.

CITY

Councilmembers pass first reading of safe cyclist passing ordinance By James Carniero News Reporter

San Marcos city councilmembers unanimously approved the first of two readings of an ordinance aimed at keeping cyclists safe on roads Tuesday evening. The Safe Passing Ordinance, if enacted by the city council, will require all vehicles to give at least three feet of clearance when pass-

ing “vulnerable road users” on the roadways. These users include pedestrians, joggers, cyclists, skateboarders, equestrians, physically disabled people, construction and maintenance workers, tow truck operators, stranded motorists and farm equipment operators, according to a Jan. 22 University Star article. Commercial vehicles such as semi-trucks would have to give at

3' Cars must give at least three feet of clearance for all ‘vulnerable road users’ under the proposed ordinance.

least six feet of clearance as part of the ordinance. The ordinance, which applies to pedestrians and cyclists, already exists in 22 Texas cities including Austin, New Braunfels and San Antonio, according to the same article. Fire Chief Les Stephens said at the city council meeting that law enforcement would only give out warnings to violators during the first 30 days after the ordinance is passed. After this time, police will start giving out citations. “People might not get the word,” Stephens said. “We don’t want it to be a surprise.” Only police officers who witness the violation will be able to write tickets, Stephens said.

Madelynne Scales | Star File Photo San Marcos city councilmembers passed the first reading of the Safe Passing Ordinance requiring vehicles to give at least three feet clearance to “vulnerable road users” including cyclists. Tickets could be up to $50 and are classified as a level three driving violation. Councilmembers want to answer questions or concerns the citizens may have, said Councilman

John Thomaides, Place 3. Thomaides said he hopes city staff have plans for educational outreach regarding the ordinance.

See COUNCIL, Page 6


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