<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0TTyGB_1H03GegA00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0TTyGB_1H03GegA00" width="1200" height="1082" ><figcaption>“One can argue that Rowan and Glassboro’s infrastructure are intertwined — and therefore Rowan should invest in their infrastructure.”&nbsp; (Copy Editor / Ellianna Onorato)</figcaption></figure>Two lane roads with near constant traffic. A major route that crosses over three states, intersecting the campus. A railroad freight train that runs through campus. Hundreds of residential houses that sit between Rowan’s main campus and West campus. Complete and utter lack of commuter parking that leads to illegal parking on and off campus. These are some of the defining characteristics of Rowan’s ongoing infrastructure problem. Rowan’s near constant expansion has completely wrecked local road infrastructure. To trace the infrastructure problem, we must first understand the Rowan and Glassboro area’s history. Rowan started in 1923 as a small teaching college, Glassboro State University. While automobiles were around and growing in popularity, trains were still popular for long travel. Bunce Hall, built in 1922, faces the Glassboro train station, which likely welcomed most visitors to the area in its heyday. But now, the station is a preserved historical site, and the railroad line has solely welcomed freight trains since 1978. Most roads that surround and intersect Rowan University are two-lane. While cars have been a part of Glassboro and Rowan for a long time, the parking problem, which at some point has grown out of hand, is now laughable. This is one issue.A whole other is in regard to the planned Rowan West Campus expansion. Having two-lane roads and nowhere to park is one thing on a singular campus. Expanding a few miles down the road to a whole separate campus, all while keeping the roads two-lane and with neighborhoods and businesses in between them, is irresponsible. Best believe there will be no real parking on West Campus. Not only that, but the West Campus expansion is also planning to add over 900 permanent jobs to the community. Which sounds great in theory, but that’s another 900 cars on the two-lane roads surrounding campus each day. That doesn’t take into account any of the people in the proposed Wellness Village, visitors to the retail center, or residential units. With them, they will bring their vehicles. The whole thought just sounds nightmarish to me, unfortunately. Rowan wants to expand and impede on all parts of Glassboro. If not Rowan University itself, Nexus Properties. But in defense of Rowan, the school hasn’t sprang up out of nowhere, though it can feel like it sometimes. It has been here in this area for over one hundred years. Nobody moves to Glassboro and is unaware that there is an overgrown and ever expanding university in the center of it. One can argue that Rowan and Glassboro’s infrastructure are intertwined — and therefore Rowan should invest in their infrastructure. Expanding and promoting the shuttle system, building enough parking spaces, and even staggering classes or offering reduced rates for unpopular class times to offset traffic congestion are all solutions. But why would they do that? Rowan is a business. If it doesn’t impact business, why would they fix the town’s infrastructure issues when they have their own ongoing issues like the recent steam plant malfunction or parking – not to beat a bloodied, dead horse. Unless we as students and Glassboro community members make these issues prominent, they will never get solved. Complaining about parking loudly and publicly is still using our voices as Rowan students. Unfortunately, being annoying is how change is made, and if Rowan adds even one more parking spots during my time here, I will consider it progress won.</div></body>

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Two lane roads with near constant traffic. A major route that crosses over three states, intersecting the campus. A railroad freight train that runs through campus. Hundreds of residential houses that sit between Rowan’s main campus and West campus. Complete and utter lack of commuter parking that leads to illegal parking on and off campus.

Onorato: Making the case for Glassboro’s infrastructure

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Two lane roads with near constant traffic. A major route that crosses over three states, intersecting the campus. A railroad freight train that runs throug

Onorato: Making the case for Glassboro’s infrastructure

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