I THINK I JUST HEARD another siren. Not very long after I heard the last one.
Hearing the siren call of the cop car blaring in the distance is becoming a regular occurrence around here. It’s not enough that our law enforcement officers have to spend too much of their time responding to the misdeeds of our homeless population, but now it’s those “law-abiding” citizens, and the accidents they cause, who are getting their attention.
The problem? Speeding. First and foremost, it’s a crime. If the speed limit is 25 mph and you’re doing 26, you’re breaking the law. Of course, you’re not likely to get stopped doing 1 mph over the limit, but the point is, it’s wrong. No different than dropping a gum wrapper on the sidewalk. It’s illegal. But when you go 5, 10, or 20 mph over the limit, it’s not just against the law… it’s dangerous.
A Reason for Limits
Marquette’s Chief of Police, Ryan Grim, deals with our need for speed every hour of every day. “Speeding increases your risk of an accident, increases your vehicle’s stopping distance, and can cost you not only in fines, but increases in insurance premiums. Speeding poses a clear and serious threat to the safety of our community. Speed limits are carefully set based on road conditions, traffic patterns, and pedestrian activity. Ignoring them puts everyone at risk.”
Here’s the deal. Too many drivers around here are treating speed limits as suggestions, which they’re not. Too many drivers are treating our roads as if they’re a NASCAR raceway, which they’re not. Too many drivers think they’re invincible, which they’re not.
Everybody’s Responsible
Who’s to blame? Sure, we can point the finger at our visitors, likely coming north from metropolitan areas in lower Michigan and Wisconsin, where speeding isn’t just tolerated… it’s expected. But that would be scapegoating drivers who are just trying to keep up.
The truth is that local drivers are just as guilty as those who are here to enjoy our ‘allegedly’ leisurely pace of life. Have you driven out to Meijer lately? A trip to the grocery store should not be a high anxiety experience. (FYI… Meijer is open until midnight. If you drive the speed limit from wherever you are in Marquette, you’ll make it before they close.) Trust me… there’s no reason to exceed the speed limit on any trip around town.
Boomer Alert
And another thing… you don’t need to tailgate. Studies have shown that tailgating leads to greater congestion, as well as being the cause of many accidents that could have been prevented.
Put it all together… aging drivers, young drivers, distracted drivers, impaired drivers, bikers, tourists, and the resultant congested roadways all combine to make the driving experience challenging in the best of conditions.
There are a lot of things out of our control, but the one thing we can control is our speed. So… SLOW DOWN!
A Newer Northern
Even though the project was announced some time ago, it seems folks are showing renewed disapproval of Northern’s new residential development on Presque Isle Avenue, now that the bulldozers are clearing the area, seen above.
Complaints generally focus on the loss of green space, as if green space in the Upper Peninsula, or even within the city limits, is hard to come by. I like green space as much as the next guy, but it doesn’t pay the bills, and it certainly doesn’t address our housing shortage.
Responding to the concern about the loss of grass and trees, NMU’s Chief Marketing Officer Derek Hall explains, “Green space and outdoor learning space is central to many campus master plan decisions. As expansion happens, NMU has a practice of planting as many or more trees that may have been removed, with a focus on native species. More campus improvements are planned for the future, including green space, and will happen as opportunities arises.”
More Housing – More Options
Regarding housing and the location of the new residential structures, Hall says, “Presque Isle Apartments, now under construction, will provide apartment style housing for 386 NMU individuals with completion schedule for summer 2027. NMU regularly evaluates existing residence halls and the demand for housing by our students. These new apartments will connect the NMU sports complex with the main campus and according to student input, will be a desired option near the athletic facilities and the Third Street corridor.”
Acknowledging that I don’t live in what will be the shadow of the new buildings, I’m in full support of Northern investing in housing, and doing what it takes to facilitate sustainable growth. I’ll echo and paraphrase what they used to say about GM… if it’s good for Northern, it’s good for Marquette.
The Big Picture
Complaints about Northern, and whatever they do with their campus, are easy to source. I’ve offered a few myself. But, big picture, if you took Northern away from Marquette, you’d have a city with an entirely different identity, with so much less to offer. With or without the isolated miscalculation, Northern is still the sandstone building block on which Marquette is built. And no, I’m not on their payroll.
It’s been around for more than 125 years, and in that time, Northern’s campus has gone through constant change, and will continue to do so. Indeed, Hall says more is on the way. I, for one, am looking forward to watching it happen. Green space included.