Students get on an Oxford-University Transit bus on the Ole Miss campus in Oxford, Miss., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013.
(DM Photo/Dexavier Sturdevant)
After multiple complaints from disgruntled fans who attended the Southeast Misouri football game Sept. 7, university officials went back to the drawing board to continue to find ways to improve gameday parking.
Officials were able to reflect on the feedback received from displeased fans and students who attended the first home game against Southeast Missouri. Isaac Astill, director of Parking and Transportation Services, played a vital role in creating this policy and the reformations.
The changes include, but are not limited to:
ON-CAMPUS
•Additional signage has been added to all parking areas.
•Additional staffing will be on hand to help answer questions and direct fans to their designated, on-campus parking area.
•All gameday staff has received additional training and education in preparation for this weekend’s game.
•Gertrude Ford Boulevard will remain open to thru-traffic until 4:30 p.m.
•A shuttle bus lane has been added to post-game traffic on Coliseum Drive, Fraternity Row and Taylor Road from Highway 6 to the roundabout to aid in the safety of those parking at off-campus lots. All other traffic will be one-way off campus at the end of the game in order to get as many cars off campus as safely and quickly as possible. Traffic will be allowed to travel both ways on Old Taylor Road after the game between the roundabout and University Avenue.
•All ADA parking is sold out for this week’s game. Those requiring assistance to get to the stadium may be dropped off on Gertrude Ford Boulevard until 4:30 p.m. University officials recommend using the off-campus lots and shuttles to most conveniently get to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
•Patrons parking on campus should provide their pass to the security officers working the campus entrances for verification to gain access to campus. The stub will be removed from the person’s pass upon entering their designated, on-campus parking lot.
OFF-CAMPUS
•The number of shuttles working Oxford Middle School/OPC Activity Center, Oxford Conference Center and Jackson Avenue Center has been doubled.
•Two new parking lots with shuttle access have been added on McElroy Drive (400 stalls) near the Oxford Post Office and at the Northwest Community College campus (547 stalls) on Belk Road near Baptist Memorial Hospital.
•All fan shuttles will begin running at 12 p.m.
•Increased lighting, security presence and signage are planned for all off-campus lots used by the gameday shuttle service
•People without parking passes can still access the Grove via University Avenue or Old Taylor Road.
•Parking at the Whirlpool Plant has been designated gameday employee parking. Use other available lots to park in order to avoid post-game congestion
Freshman mechanical engineering major Donald Lorbecke approves of the freshly adjusted policy after encountering several problems with the initial policy.
“While I do not agree with the policy at all, the adjustments made to the regulations will help with traffic flow around campus. Maybe not significantly, but better than the last home game.”
On-campus residents and residents who hold gameday parking tags are the only people allowed to park on campus this season in order to preserve Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking.
Astill said a committee made up of representatives from the Gameday Committee at athletics, parking, UPD, the Alumni Association and the Lyceum were assembled to form parking guidelines in order to preserve ADA access.
“The university is striving to ensure the campus is always compliant, but more importantly everyone coming to campus on gameday will experience a safer and more enjoyable time,” he said.
While university officials acknowledge there is still room for improvement, Astill and the other officials are much more confident about the new parking regulations.
“As far as being comfortable with the new plans, I am confident we are moving in the right direction,” Astill said. “This is new, and additional adjustments will be made to improve and protect the university and gameday experience.”
