While driving around Sonoma State’s campus, it doesn’t go unnoticed that the roads could use some TLC. The campus has been open and active since 1961, and it’s seen many changes since then, but for years now, the roads have been a subject of concern among many students. Uneven pavement, potholes, and a lack of road signs make the drive around the otherwise beautiful campus a little unpleasant. Not only is it a matter of general road quality and upkeep, but of safety for students who provide the majority of campus traffic.
Conor Gilbreath, a business student at Sonoma State, expressed his thoughts on the matter by stating they might as well get fixed now if it’s possible rather than wait too long and see it get much worse. Gilbreth comments, “A lot of roads on and near campus are pretty good for the most part, then the rest have crazy bumps, cracks, potholes, and imperfections that can make students trip every step they take, as well as make your car bounce around like it’s offroading.”
To give some perspective on Sonoma State campuses road condition, East Redwood Drive stretches towards the soccer stadium, right across from the Tuscany dorms, and is riddled with potholes, divots, and cracks. Going past Juniper Lane, the road becomes a bumpy unbalanced mess with pavement sinking and rising from the ground. For the most part, driving on and around campus is a pretty bumpy ride.
Near the University Police building and Verdot Village, on West Redwood Dr, the road contains wild bumps and dips as well as cracking pavement. Following its drive is a highly lifted crosswalk next to Rachel Carson Hall, with no warning or sign regarding the crosswalk. This gives no warning to where pedestrians may cross a main road on campus that is usually very busy. This poses a danger as it could lead to accidents between drivers and pedestrians.
Student Naomi Matin, an English major at SSU, expressed her grievances regarding the lack of road signs around campus. She states, “There’s a lot of one-way streets on campus that aren’t marked very clearly and it’s a bit confusing at times. I’m constantly seeing people drive the wrong way on the roads over in parking lot F by the Beaujolais and Tuscany villages.” The lack of road signs on campus clearly makes it hard for students to find where they are going, and once again poses potential for automobile accidents to occur.
Parking lots on campus haven’t proved to have any better conditions. In and around parking lot F, there is some need for work. Parts of the tree-lined road are unpaved and almost make it feel like you are driving through a rural forest.
Students such as Paul Munoz, a third year student at Sonoma State, don’t think much of the conditions of the road but understand how the quality could quickly go south if left unchecked. Munoz comments, “I think it could cause major problems when it comes to transportation in the future, but I think it’s not to the point where it doesn’t draw too much of a significance to disrupt people’s transportations, but that could change in the future.”
The weather is still fairly warm and sunny at the moment, but it’s only a matter of time until the rainy season strikes down on the school for weeks on end, which could lead to the conditions of the roads worsening and becoming even more noticeable and troublesome for the students.
It’s best to strike while the iron is still hot, and with the right motivation and funding, Sonoma State can go ahead and fix up the pavement around campus. With all the traffic and worsening weather the campus sees, the roads could become a real problem in no time if action isn’t taken.
