L.A. County Fire Department closes student thoroughfare after two violations .
By Mary Wisneiwski
Staff Writer
Dorm Road was closed last Friday after Pepperdine was cited twice for violations from the Los Angeles County Fire Department for safety reasons.
Emergency vehicles struggled to get through Dorm Road on several different occasions, said Public Safety Deputy Director Rob McKelvy. A fire department captain was delayed in making an emergency trip, he said.
Pepperdine issued a notice to all students explaining the reasons why the road is now closed. It said Los Angeles County cited Pepperdine with the violations of Title 32 of the 2000 Los Angeles County Fire Code and Title 24 from the 2001 Los Angeles County Fire Code.
The exact citation from L.A. County Fire Department states “The current condition is in violation of the current and past codes; therefore, removal of the yellow painted parking zones and parking meters is required. Dorm Road is to be returned to its original status of fire lane with no parking allowed.”
“It’s kind of a disappointment,” freshman English major Marisa Hicks said. “It will be harder to move in and out of the dorms – harder for the people who live far away and have to ship large boxes and harder for the people who live close who have to pack up their whole car.”
Dorm Road was opened in the Fall of 2001 to allow residents to have more access to the residential community between the hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This is no longer the case. The meters have already been taken away, some curbs have been ripped out, and students can’t drive on the road. McKelvy said 90 percent of the construction is over with already.
Dawn Emrich, associate director of housing, said Dorm Road was closed because it violated safety rules that require the road to be a certain width. Around certain curbs, the road was too narrow, Emrich said. Also, some students would park in the red zones, making it even more of a danger, she said.
Currently, vehicles are only allowed on Dorm Road on a case-by-case basis, including maintenance, Mckeuly said. This means companies like Sparkletts and Coca-Cola can still drive on the road.
Lines are now being drawn to set up parking places for these types of vehicles. Everyone has to park in a space to comply with the laws, Emrich said.
“They should open Dorm Road for loading and unloading, but keep it shut for parking,” International studies and art major Maria Kingsley said.
Emrich lives on Dorm Road and acknowledges the hassles it creates. However, “It’s a small inconvenience compared to someone who needs medical attention,” said Emrich. “It overrides any inconvenience.”
Emrich said she hasn’t heard too many complaints from students. In fact, some have told her it makes them feel safer walking to class.
The University had been having meetings about the closed road to solve some of the issues it creates, Emrich said. One of the top concerns is the University’s handicapped students and to make sure students get to class on time, Emrich said.
University officials are discussing the possibility of opening Dorm Road during checkouts at the end of the year.
McKelvy met with L.A. County Fire Department yesterday. We are trying to get an individual use permit, said McKelvy. This means, students would be able to use Dorm Road during check-out. However, Public Safety would monitor the road and the Pepperdine fire department would be present to make sure traffic won’t be a problem, he said.
However, it all depends on L.A. County. “It’s a life safety issue and we have to comply. The University has to work in the parameters,” Emrich said.
A meeting among community living has already taken place to discuss creative ways about student check-out if the road doesn’t re-open. McKelvy will be meeting again with L.A. County next week to finalize plans on whether the road can reopen.
Submitted March 25, 2004