City engineers proposed Wednesday that Ball State's Scramble Light concept be done away with in favor of a method they believe is more efficient.
In place of the Scramble Light, Stan Hiatt, a consulting engineer for the City of Muncie, suggested to the Board of Public Works and Safety a method that would allow protected pedestrian movement parallel to traffic, while prohibiting vehicles to turn into the path of pedestrians for a set amount of time. He said this would shorten the length of time students have to stand and wait, which he said would be especially helpful in cold weather. It would also help alleviate some traffic congestion at the intersection.
The Scramble Light, which Ball State officials date back to at least the 60s, is located at the corner of McKinley and Riverside avenues. Board president Betty DeVoe told Hiatt that the board supported his proposal.
Meanwhile, Jim Lowe, director of facilities engineering, said he was aware of the idea being proposed, but was not informed that it would be made public Wednesday or that Hiatt would even be present at the board's meeting.
The plan would also require right-turn lanes at every intersection, something Lowe said Ball State University is not in agreement with. If Ball State does not agree to the plan, and the City of Muncie decides to go ahead with it anyway, the city would have to complete the plan without money acquired by Ball State, Hiatt said.
"What I fear most is that the students will revolt," Hiatt said. "We're not going to get hung up on tradition."
But when approached with the idea, students using the Scramble Light Wednesday were not against the idea.
"Whatever is sufficient for the students," freshman Terrell Jones said.
Junior David Heller said a lot of students are often gathered waiting at the corner for their turn to cross. Others, such as Claire Sazerat, a graduate student, did not think the change was necessary.
"It's not that bad," Sazerat said.
The entire cycle at the Scramble Light, including green lights for north-south and east-west traffic and the time for students to cross, takes about 90 seconds to complete, Hiatt said. The new method would be about the same amount of time.
The Scramble Light has been a traditional gathering point for Ball State students for years. Protesters, salespeople or anyone else with a message often come to the corner of McKinley and Riverside avenues to be heard by students.
The removal of the Scramble Light would be part of an effort to make the stretch of McKinley Avenue located between Riverside and Bethel avenues more friendly to both pedestrians and vehicles.
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