JC Council to discuss street closure agreement with Lincoln University

The Jefferson City Council is scheduled to meet Monday night to introduce and discuss an agreement with Lincoln University to vacate Chestnut Street.

Lincoln University is requesting the vacation of Chestnut from Dunklin to Atchison so it can close the street to the public, and build a pedestrian plaza in part of the street.

According to council documents, the university has long desired and requested the vacation of the street to enhance student safety.

The university has been in talks with the city since the early 1990s when the city council changed the street to one-way.

In an August discussion, the city staff expressed support for the vacation from a traffic standpoint, but recognized residents in the area might be inconvenienced by the closure.

The Public Works Department in August said a review of traffic data in the area indicates the closure of Chestnut will divert about 2000-2200 trips per day to other streets and parking lots near the campus.