Rain pools, creates traffic problems
Editorial
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Editorial
Inclement weather has slowed down traffic in Chattanooga recently, and flooded many parts of surrounding roads and UTC parking lots. Students were sent e-mails telling them if they are parked along Oak Street they "may want to move their vehicles to higher ground."
Parking at UTC was enough of a problem in and of itself. With the forecast calling for continuous rain until Saturday, it makes one wonder what exactly it will take for UTC officials to realize that forcing students to drive to class in these conditions is extremely dangerous.
We at The Echo think if conditions worsen over the next few days, the administration at UTC may need to look at the possibility of cancelling classes. Less than 30% of UTC's total student population actually lives on campus. Those few would not need to get behind the wheel, but the majority of students, as well as the professors, would.
Chattanooga is not known for its rainfall and it does not look as though its soil is holding up too well. Because of this, widespread flooding is causing road closures and traffic congestion.
Students traveling to get to school not only have to leave an hour early in order to ensure a parking place, but now they must leave even earlier in order to compensate for the time spent sitting in weather-related traffic.
Driving in standing water has become, within the past week, a necessity for some faculty and staff. While students may want to drive a little faster in the rain in order to make it to class on time we want to remind them that being prompt is not, by any stretch of the imagination, worth the lives of their vehicles or, especially, themselves.
"In order for the campus to close due to flooding, a significant number of the streets in a widespread portion of the Chattanooga region and especially those close to campus would have to be deemed unsafe by highway safety officials," Assistant Vice Chancellor Chuck Cantrell said.
"While there have been pockets of flooding associated with the recent rainfall, the level of flooding has not made overall travel in the region unsafe.
Of course, faculty, staff and students must exercise discretion and caution in their own travel to campus."
If experiencing "flu-like" symptoms is an acceptable excuse for class absences then preventing yourself from wrecking your car and possibly injuring you and many others should be too.
Parking at UTC was enough of a problem in and of itself. With the forecast calling for continuous rain until Saturday, it makes one wonder what exactly it will take for UTC officials to realize that forcing students to drive to class in these conditions is extremely dangerous.
We at The Echo think if conditions worsen over the next few days, the administration at UTC may need to look at the possibility of cancelling classes. Less than 30% of UTC's total student population actually lives on campus. Those few would not need to get behind the wheel, but the majority of students, as well as the professors, would.
Chattanooga is not known for its rainfall and it does not look as though its soil is holding up too well. Because of this, widespread flooding is causing road closures and traffic congestion.
Students traveling to get to school not only have to leave an hour early in order to ensure a parking place, but now they must leave even earlier in order to compensate for the time spent sitting in weather-related traffic.
Driving in standing water has become, within the past week, a necessity for some faculty and staff. While students may want to drive a little faster in the rain in order to make it to class on time we want to remind them that being prompt is not, by any stretch of the imagination, worth the lives of their vehicles or, especially, themselves.
"In order for the campus to close due to flooding, a significant number of the streets in a widespread portion of the Chattanooga region and especially those close to campus would have to be deemed unsafe by highway safety officials," Assistant Vice Chancellor Chuck Cantrell said.
"While there have been pockets of flooding associated with the recent rainfall, the level of flooding has not made overall travel in the region unsafe.
Of course, faculty, staff and students must exercise discretion and caution in their own travel to campus."
If experiencing "flu-like" symptoms is an acceptable excuse for class absences then preventing yourself from wrecking your car and possibly injuring you and many others should be too.
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