Photo illustration by Matt Weir / The Collegian

Fresno State’s Traffic and Safety Subcommittee has formed a plan to limit vehicles driving through the areas with the highest concentration of pedestrians in order to satisfy the Campus Master Plan.

The area identified with the most foot-traffic has been labeled the “no drive zone.” This area includes the walkway that starts northwest of the Madden library and heads east through the Free Speech Area, passes the fountain and ends east of the Thomas Administration building. It also includes the Peace, Memorial and Rose gardens.

In the no drive zone, the policy will prohibit vehicles from traveling on walkways and only makes exceptions for maintenance or emergency vehicles and golf carts used in the SCOUT program – a program for disabled students.

The second area, referred to as the restricted drive zone, circles the campus and stretches from San Ramon Avenue to Keats Avenue, and Campus Drive to west of the Peters Business building. The policy bans driving in this zone from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Amy Armstrong, the public information officer for the department of public safety, said that the university police are asking drivers to spend as little time as possible in the restricted driving area. They are urged to travel onto the campus while the fewest numbers of students are present and to enter the restricted zone at the closest point to their destination.

Armstrong said that the university police are working to identify groups and vendors that enter the campus.

“We’re going to issue the people who regularly have business here a restricted driving permit,” she said.

Armstrong has begun meeting with the groups affected, including plant operations and the office of student activities and leadership development. Once all of the groups have been informed and the proper signs are posted, the university police will begin enforcing the policy. She said they anticipate it to be ready by Sept. 14.

“What we’re wanting to do is take an educational approach,” said Armstrong. “We don’t want to go to the point of citations.”

Rick Finden, director of plant operations, said that the permits will allow plant operations to take care of any emergencies, so he did not expect the policy to affect daily maintenance.

“It shouldn’t be a significant impact,” he said.

Repeat offenders can expect to be reported to their supervisors. Also, the office of risk management is authorized to suspend an offender’s license for up to 30 days, said Armstrong, forcing them to retake a defensive driving course. University police officers can give tickets for moving violations as well.