University of Memphis students have crossed the Southern Avenue train tracks for decades. But
where a student can cross is going to be limited in the coming months when U of M officials build
a fence along the tracks. A Daily Helmsman photographer snapped this photo of students crossing
the tracks in 1974.
The days of students racing the train that runs along Southern Avenue are coming to an end.
The University of Memphis will build a fence around the railroad tracks on Southern Avenue. Rumors have circulated among students for a while, but Campus Planning and Design has finally confirmed the project.
Construction will begin in April and will be completed sometime next fall semester.
Students will still be able to park at the lot near Southern, but will be able to only cross the train tracks at three designated gates.
Brian Keith Wilcox, director of facility management and project services, said the plan has been in the works for the past semester.
“We have talked about this for a while now,†he said. “We just finished the contract and will begin constructing soon. We don’t have an exact date for completion though.â€
This follows the University’s plan to build a pedestrian bridge over Southern and Walker Avenues and the railroad tracks.
Sophomores Mohamed Khalil (right) and Ebrahim Allouzi (left) cross the railroad tracks on
Southern Avenue between classes on Feb. 9. Students will only be able to cross the train tracks
at three gates located between Patterson Hall and the Rec Center.
A new campus recreation center is also in the works for 2018.
This fence is another initiative to keep students safe as they cross the tracks heading to class, Wilcox said.
Wilcox said this fence would surround the railroad tracks from the Patterson building all the way past the rec center.
The new fence will prevent students from being close to the tracks in case of a train derailing.
In February 2012, a train at Mendenhall crossing derailed.
Ever since that incident, questions have been raised about student safety. There have also been problems with students trying to “outrun†the train in an attempt to make it to class on time. This fence would force students to wait until the train passes to safely cross.
At least 400 people died in 2015 while crossing railroad tracks at non-designated crossing sections, according to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety. At least 300 more people were injured doing the same thing.
“We wanted to ensure campus safety when students are going to class,†Wilcox said. “Although we haven’t heard any complaints from students, we felt the fence would prevent any potential accidents and also keep students from randomly crossing on Southern.â€
The fence will have three main gates where the students can cross. The first gate will be near the Patterson building. The second gate will be in line with the University Center and the clock tower. The final gate will be directly in front of the recreation center.
“Students will have to open the gate at each of the three locations in order to cross the tracks,†Wilcox said.
According to Wilcox, there are also plans to build new steps near each of the gates.
“We will also have ramps built near the stairs as well,†he said. The news has gotten negative reviews from a few students. Macy Pruitt, a junior education major, was not thrilled with the idea.
“The trains take forever and this fence would make it longer because now we have to open a gate just to cross,†she said. “I don’t know why they would do this.â€
Lily Smith, also a junior education major, said she doesn’t know how this fence would be helpful.
“They needed to do something,†she said. “But I’d rather them build the bridge over the railroad tracks next semester instead. This seemed sort of pointless because we’re still going to have to wait to cross.â€
