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October Council Coverage
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November 4, 2008, Volume 55, No. 11

At the October 22 Council meeting, after the State of the University Report of the President (Almanac October 28) EVP Craig Carnaroli reported on Campus Life Issues: Transportation, Public Safety, Graduate Housing, Dining, and Retail.

Transportation: A new initiative installed this summer is a global positioning system (GPS) to allow riders to track the location of Penn Transit vehicles with their PDA or cell phone; three new transit stops were added with CCTV and phones; boundaries were expanded; four new fuel-efficient buses have been added to Penn’s fleet; holiday shuttle buses to the airport will run for the Thanksgiving and winter break. South Street Bridge will likely close in December, according to city officials. The Weave Bridge, to be installed later this month, will allow pedestrians to get from Hollenback to the Palestra area.

Public Safety: While crimes against persons have been down over the past calendar year, crimes against property, generally unattended theft, is a problem. A campus  lighting project along Walnut, Spruce, and 34th streets has improved those areas; next phases are moving lighting westward.

Graduate Housing: The Neighborhood Preservation and Development Fund is an initiative that Penn has to acquire properties aimed at maintaining available and affordable multifamily housing in the neighborhood.

Retail: More than 100 businesses occupy over 350,000 square feet of retail space here with a mix of both independent and national brands.

Penn Dining: New initiatives include the guest chef series at the dining halls which have gone trayless; some changes in the Houston Market and at 1920 Commons; the University Square Farmers Market accepts Penn Cash and Dining Dollars.

 

 

 

Almanac - November 4, 2008, Volume 55, No. 11