Cal State Fullerton recently received $5 million in federal funding for a new pedestrian bridge that will span a key campus crossing at Nutwood and Chapman avenues. This bridge will protect pedestrians (including university students, faculty and staff), reduce accidents, mitigate neighborhood concerns, improve traffic flow, reduce vehicle trips and encourage walking and biking.
U.S. Rep. Young Kim, with the support of U.S. Rep. Lou Correa and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, was able to secure $5 million in the FY2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill. This, in addition to the $1 million state budget appropriation funding received last year, will allow CSUF to start planning and developing this critical pedestrian bridge.
The success of this funding was a community effort with the support of the city, county, state, alumni and a host of external stakeholders including a number of local and ethnic chambers of commerce.
College Park, a workplace and class space for thousands of students, faculty and staff, is separated from the main campus across Nutwood Avenue. The vast majority of these employees and students cross Nutwood daily to reach the main campus.
“It is particularly dangerous for the more than 1,700 students with visual, hearing or mobility disabilities, many of whom need access to College Park for classes or resources.”
The bridge will also improve traffic flow, as approximately 22,000 to 26,000 vehicles travel on Nutwood Avenue between the freeway and State College Drive on any given weekday. Finally, it is hoped that this bridge would encourage walking and bicycling.