Construction is set to begin May 21 on new bus pull-offs on Curtin Road near Pattee Library in hopes of easing traffic concerns and improving safety for pedestrians, an Office of Physical Plant spokesman said.

Currently, students cross Curtin Road near Pattee Library and Fischer Plaza without using a crosswalk and risk being hit by oncoming traffic, OPP spokesman Paul Ruskin said. Typically, cars swerve around the Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) buses at these stops, and when students walk behind buses to cross the street, this combination becomes dangerous, Ruskin said.

The congestion caused by pedestrians, CATA buses and cars intersecting on that part of Curtin Road worries OPP, Ruskin said.

"We're concerned that somebody could be hit by a vehicle," Ruskin said.

Bus pull-offs will allow other cars traveling in the area to get around buses safely, Ruskin said. A new raised crosswalk will deter speeding and hopefully encourage students to use it instead of walking in traffic, Chad Spackman, OPP project manager, said.

"Currently, students will get off the bus and walk in front of the bus," Spackman said. "We're hoping that they will use the crosswalks more."

CATA received a $500,000 federal grant about two years ago that will help pay for the cost of the construction; however, Penn State's general operation funds will also be used to cover the cost, which has not been released, Spackman said.

The remodeled bus stops will not look like others found around campus. Instead, they will be able to accommodate three buses at a time and will feature custom-built shelters at least twice as long as the current ones, he said.

Eric Bernier, CATA service development manager, said the remodeled stops will solve a number of problems.

"Ideally this project will help bus traffic through that area and improve on-time performance," Bernier said.

It could also help to eliminate the bunching up of buses, which in turn helps to control overcrowded buses. Currently, buses tend to line up in front of Pattee Library causing traffic jams, which sometimes expands to Burrowes Road, Bernier said.

Fischer Plaza will also be renovated as part of the project to make the area handicap accessible, to improve lighting and to improve the landscape. Additionally, as part of the project to return pavement on campus to green space, a substantial amount of sidewalk in Fischer Plaza will be removed, Ruskin said.

During the summer, the part of Curtin Road near the library will have to be closed for at least four weeks if not more, Spackman said.

Students said they think the project will increase safety for pedestrians.

"I think it's a really good idea," Lauren Graham (sophomore-media studies) said. "It'll help with traffic because of how it just stops and it's dangerous for students because they can't see around the buses."

Donny Brenner (sophomore-international politics) said he is concerned about getting hit by oncoming traffic.

"I agree that it's a problem," Brenner said. "I'm always afraid I'm going to walk out in front of a bus."

Paul Schubert (sophomore-biobehavioral health) said he avoids that road whenever it's possible.

"I think the change is a good idea," Schubert said. "I always skip that road when I ride my bike."