UWT and Market Street

Peter Callaghan has some thoughts on the UWT master planning. Also more at Exit133 about the community's involvement in the process.

Previously the plan has called for closing Market Street. A lot of community members are against it because it is a major arterial. And, as Callaghan points out, UWT doesn't want the conversation to be solely about whether or not to close Market.

Callaghan writes:

[UWT] wants the community to begin imagining a university that will continue evolving from its birth as an option for place-bound students.

That might mean dormitories and apartments. It might mean dining halls and recreational facilities. It might mean applied research labs and places for the transfer of technology and innovation to private businesses. It might mean increased cultural opportunities for students, faculty and the community. It might mean more open space and more gathering space. It might mean parking garages and more transit opportunities.

Sign me up for all that in a heartbeat!

As to the question of closing Market, I'm not sure it's an all bad option. It would certainly disrupt traffic flow. I wonder if Fawcett could be widened and improved to be an alternate arterial if Market were closed ... although if you're going that far up the hill, then you may as well just count Tacoma Ave as the replacement arterial.

Closing the street might not be all bad ... but I just don't see a compelling rationale for closing the street.