The Future of the Mell Corridor

Last week, Auburn University hosted an open forum to discuss options for the Mell Corridor.

With the new classroom building scheduled to open for classes in Fall 2017, the 28 classrooms and 2 lecture halls will increase foot traffic by 5500 folks, daily.
What does this mean for traffic in this area?  Right now, Mell is closed off from the entrance to the Quad to Thach Avenue.  The forum discussed some options what this could look like in the near future.

Mell Corridor

Here some of the options discussed:
1.  Resume traffic on Mell
2.  Turn Mell just outside the new classroom building into pedestrian zone, with or without a transit only lane
3.  Turn Mell from the Quad Drive to Thach Avenue into pedestrian zone, with or without a transit only lane
4.  Increase parking around Ross Square
5.  Develop a traffic hammer or circle at the entrance to campus on Thach
6.  Develop a traffic circle on Roosevelt
7.  Add either traffic lights or a roundabout to the Mell/Samford intersection

I think the pedestrian option is the right direction to go in, especially with the increased foot traffic.  Having the transit go through as a one-way-street might help getting students to class on time.  And I am hoping that traffic lights will win over a roundabout, because I just don't see a roundabout working well with pedestrians.
In case you are not familiar with the concept of the roundabout -- you enter and you drive in a circle until you get to your exit. They may cost less than traffic signals but may also need to take up more space.

example of roudabout

What are your thoughts on the Mell Corridor?

For more info:  http://www.auburn.edu/administration/facilities/organization/university-architect/cpsm/mell-corridor-planning/index.html