Despite the usual fall weather we’ve been experiencing, the University Avenue sewer and streetscape project has made significant progress over the last couple of months. Contractors have been hard at work installing storm sewer pipes, burying all utilities, relocating fire hydrants, and installing new streetlights. The north bike lane and sidewalks have started to take shape adjacent to the campus and temporary street paving is happening soon. The intent is to have all walk connections, street paving, and rough grading completed to provide two travel lanes and a center turn lane with a continuous sidewalk prior to shutting down this project for the winter. In the spring (before Drake Relays), the bus shelter, final street paving, and landscaping will be complete to finalize this new stretch of streetscape.

One of the unique aspects of this streetscape has been completed by 30^th Street. This is the first area in the city to receive the newly designed bus stop with incorporated bike lanes that travel behind the bus stop in order for the bus to pick-up or drop-off passengers without any conflicts to bicyclists. There will be two new bus stops on the north side and eventually three on the south side.

As construction continues, please be aware of your surroundings in relation to traffic with limited sight lines and use caution when crossing University Avenue. Students, faculty, and staff are asked to use the pedestrian crossing light at Olmsted Lot for crossing.

— Kevin Moran, Facilities Planning and Management

The 2019 United Way Campaign began yesterday, and as of this morning we’ve raised $26,347 from 191 donors. Thank you to those who have given. For those who have not yet given, please do not forget to make your contributions by Friday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. We need more support to reach our goal of 450 donors. We anticipate that this number of donors will raise upwards of $60,000.

When Katelyn Sobotka, assistant director for compliance, Drake Athletics, was asked why she donates to the United Way, she said:

“I give to United Way because growing up I was the beneficiary of programs similar to those that the United Way supports. My parents are farmers, which, during planting and harvesting season, could often result in them spending anywhere from 10 to 16 hours a day working in the fields. Thankfully, there was a well operated before and after-school program that my parents were able to enroll my brother and me in that focused on educational and recreational activities. This programming promoted our childhood development and allowed my parents to focus on completing their work. Being able to put in longer days during the week also meant my parents were generally able to have nights and weekends free to spend with us as a family. I give because first I was a beneficiary.”

You may read about the campaign and see the full list of incentives by visiting drake.edu/unitedway. If you have any questions, please contact your unit’s campaign captain, or Ryan Arnold, at ryan.arnold@drake.edu or ext. 2394.

— Ryan Arnold, Director of Community Engagement