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'Try University' to build new campus entrance from US‑20 under MOU; INDOT says configuration is safe
Summary
Council approved a memorandum of understanding with 'Try University' to build a new two‑lane entrance from US‑20 to improve safety and bus access; INDOT reviewed corridor counts and did not find signal warrants, and the university said it will fund construction and pursue property acquisitions.
Representatives for the institution referred to in the record as "Try University" presented a plan to construct a new west entrance to campus from U.S. 20 and requested that the council enter a memorandum of understanding to allow the work to proceed.
"What we'd like to do is build a new entrance, a new west entrance to our campus that would allow a greater safety factor... and it would be as wide as two lanes," Mr. Bach said, describing alignment benefits for large vehicles and sports buses and showing a map to council.
City staff (Amanda) told the council they had an email from Dana Platner at the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and had held several meetings; she said INDOT is supportive of the plan, that INDOT examined corridor counts (including high‑traffic football days) and did not find warrants for a traffic signal at this time but would continue to monitor the configuration.
Mr. Bach said the university is not asking for city funding and intends to build the road using its own resources; a street vacation would follow construction so that the city could vacate a portion of the existing street after easements and utility access are preserved. He said the university is negotiating acquisition of nearby parcels; city staff said property owners currently would retain local access and the existing portion of Summit Street north and south would be closed to through traffic if the project proceeds.
Council voted to enter the memorandum of understanding and authorized the university to pursue permitting and approvals. The motion passed on a voice vote with no objections recorded.
Council members asked follow‑up questions about left‑turn access, turn lanes and future monitoring; INDOT and city staff confirmed turn lanes are part of the plan and that traffic‑signal warrants had not been met in the studies provided to staff.
