UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie and members of the Community Design Workshop officially opened the university’s bike path along Cajundome Boulevard.
The two-mile path begins near the Ira Nelson Horticulture Center on Johnston Street and continues through University Research Park. It ends at Eraste Landry Road.
Construction of the path was funded by a $1 million enhancement grant from the state Department of Transportation and Development. Architecture students in the Community Design Workshop designed the path, which includes multiple phases. Over the past 15 years, the CDW has provided more than 80 detailed plans to improve neighborhoods and communities.
“ We had four classes in the CDW work on this,” said Tom Sammons, CDW director. “That’s about 100 students overall.”
He noted that the second phase of the bike path would connect the existing path to campus and Girard Park and to the Student Union. He is planning to write a grant for the construction in the coming year.
“Conceptually, we’ve been planning for phase two,” Sammons said. “We’ve always included it as a part of this project.”
The path is part of a larger university initiative to promote alternate means of transportation that don’t harm the environment. It is also part of the university’s plan to unify the main campus and the University Commons area, which consists of UL Lafayette property between Johnston Street and Eraste Landry Road.
“We dedicate this bike path to our students and to the City of Lafayette,” said Savoie. “I hope that for our students it will provide more convenience and safety. For Lafayette, it is shows our commitment to grow UL Lafayette in tandem with surrounding neighborhoods to foster pedestrian-friendly urban centers that enhance an already forward-thinking city.”