IU Athletics Release on Game Day Traffic

Fans will need to leave their homes early if you plan on traveling on SR37 tomorrow. Image:IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass today announced several measures IU Athletics is taking to address gameday traffic disruptions caused by the ongoing construction along State Road 37. These measures include working with Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the I-69 Development Partners; identifying alternative routes; enhanced communication; encouraging fans to leave early; working with local police; parking enhancements to help with traffic; and departure strategies.
 
Working with INDOT and I-69 Developers
In an effort to improve traffic flow, INDOT will extend green traffic lights along Indiana State Road 37 on game days.  INDOT and I-69 Development Partners will also work to limit lane restrictions on State Road 37 on gamedays. In addition, IU Athletics will provide improved signage upon arriving in Bloomington to assist fans traveling to and from the game.
 
IU Athletics staff has been meeting with I-69 officials throughout the summer to discuss the impact of State Road 37 construction on gameday traffic. As a result of collaboration between IU Athletics, I-69 Development Partners and INDOT, there is a unified communications strategy to ensure that up-to-date and accurate information is being shared to fans and travelers by all three parties. Representatives from either INDOT and/or the I-69 Development Partners will attend all game day operations meetings with Indiana Athletics. They will also be present on football Saturdays to assist with traffic updates and communications, and I-69 Development Partners will provide an on-call representative to help troubleshoot traffic issues and provide important traffic information.
 
Identifying Alternative Routes
IU Athletics has also worked with INDOT to identify routes to Bloomington as alternatives to State Road 37 for persons coming to the games from Indianapolis and points north. Construction on State Road 37 has significantly increased the time it takes to travel from Indianapolis. On a good day, it takes approximately one hour to drive from 465 and 37 to Memorial Stadium. Gameday traffic, as evidenced by the impact of Welcome Week traffic, could increase travel time significantly. While leaving early as discussed below, can substantially mitigate such delays, if you need to leave closer to game time INDOT recommends considering the following alternative routes:
 

• State Highway 67 south to Spencer, then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington (estimated travel time for this route 1 hour and 20 from Indianapolis)
• I-65 south toward Columbus to State Highway 46 west into Bloomington (even with construction on I-65, estimated travel time for this route 1 hour and 20 minutes from Indianapolis)
• I-70 west towards 231-south and then State Highway 46 east into Bloomington (estimated travel time 1 hour and 45 minutes from Indianapolis)

IU Athletics staff personally travelled the proposed routes and requested assistance from INDOT to program lights along those routes on gamedays to improve traffic flow.
 
Enhanced Communication
Fans can opt in to the new text alert system by texting IUFB to 313131 to begin receiving alerts from IU Athletics.  Only pertinent information surrounding travel, traffic, weather and emergency situations will be shared on the new text system. 

For live up-to-date traffic information on game day, fans can follow @OurIndiana on twitter or opt in to the text alert system as IU Athletics will post updates for travelers from those mediums as advised by all parties involved. 
 
Encouraging Fans to Leave Early!
Fans are encouraged to leave early to allow extra travel time to games.  Parking lots will be opened a minimum of five hours prior to kickoff time for each home contest.  For exact times of the opening of lots each week, follow @OurIndiana on twitter for that information. Early arriving fans are encouraged to enjoy live entertainment and food in the Hoosier Village, tailgate, or take advantage of the wide variety of restaurant and bar options in Bloomington before kickoff. 
 
Working with Local Police
In another effort to help ease and maintain a more consistent traffic flow around the stadium, Indiana Athletics has worked with the IU Police Department to assign traffic officers to the same location throughout the entire season to keep the traffic pattern consistent each and every football game day. The football game day traffic pattern will be the same as in recent years and will go into effect a minimum of two hours prior to kickoff. Fans should be advised that Woodlawn Avenue, south of 17th Street is closed and under construction.
 
Parking Enhancements to Help with Traffic
Prepaid parking passes are available for purchase and are recommended to guarantee a parking spot within the athletic campus on football game days. There is also a $5 discount for prepaid passes.  Call the IU Athletics ticket office at 1-866-IUSPORTS to purchase a season or single game pass.
 
In order to ease and allow for several hundred more parking spaces for fans, Indiana Athletics staff and all game day personnel will park in lots outside of the athletics campus this season. 
 
Police and staff will limit access to parking lots to those with appropriate credentials in order to avoid backups and delays associated with people in the wrong.
 
In addition to the lots in and around the athletic campus, there are three parking garages on campus that are available to the public on football game days.  Those lots include:

• Fee Lane Garage near Kelley School of Business
• Poplars Garage, entrance on 6th Street between Grant and Dunn Streets
• Henderson Garage, entrances from Indiana Avenue and/or S. Fess Avenue between 3rd Street and Atwater Avenue 

Departure Strategies
Fans are encouraged to stay and enjoy postgame tailgating as lots remain open overnight. Fans should also consider the same alternative routes listed for their travels home after the game.