The University of Massachusetts Lowell began in the early 20th century. The university was originally composed of two separate schools known as Lowell Normal School and Lowell Textile School. Over the years the two schools evolved and in 1975 they merged into Lowell University. In 1991 the university became part of the University of Massachusetts and the University of Massachusetts Lowell was born. The university has expanded rapidly over the past five years. During the 2013-2014 school year, there were 16,969 students enrolled at the University. The enrollment rate has increased year after year in every department. Since 2008, total enrollment has increased by more than 10% each year. With the growing student body, solutions must be found to ensure resources are available and students are safe. As part of Chancellor Marty Meehan's plan to expand the school, several additions were made. The north campus features a new $80 million research facility dedicated to cutting-edge technology. Parking has been expanded in the Riverside Street lot. A large parking lot was built to accommodate many more commuters in a smaller space. Commuters arriving by car flood the area to get to class on time. This rapid influx of student commuters has put stress on the streets of the surrounding community. Given the university's history, it is clear that these streets were never designed to handle this type of traffic. On most weekdays during the normal semester traffic in the area peaks just before the hour, from 8:00 to 11:00. This coincides with the time when many classes end and people have to walk to their next class. Many commuters are in a hurry to get to class and fall victim to traffic... half of paper... obstructs the view of oncoming cars, making pedestrians more vulnerable. Giving students the ability to traverse the vast majority of north campus while being protected from the elements would help them cope with New England winters. Cold, wet, snowy winters are not particularly conducive to foot traffic. Slush and road salt cover everything while hidden patches of ice await unsuspecting victims. If students can live comfortably and safely, the trend of increasing enrollment is likely to continue. Ultimately, it all depends on the university administration's understanding of the problem. If decision makers realized that expanding enrollment requires responsible expansion of facilities, then they would certainly push this project. There are too many benefits to commuting, and college students ignore this proposition.