I’ll be one of the thousands of fans going to the season opener against YSU on Saturday. My secret parking space (location withheld) may be affected by this construction. I’m tempted to park on West Campus or at the Fairgrounds to take COTA. Oooh, idea! If I bring bicycles with me to Columbus, I can park near the path, I’m thinking near the Park of Roses, and bike to the game. Sweet.
Going to the ‘Shoe on Saturday? Prepare for gridlock
Construction on N. High will slow football-game traffic
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:37 PM
By Rick Rouan
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCHEnd-zone pylons won’t be the only orange that Buckeye fans will want to stay between on Saturday.
Construction on N. High Street north of Lane Avenue will make bumper-to-bumper traffic tighter as orange cones restrict traffic to one lane in both directions, said Mary Carran Webster, Columbus assistant director of public service.
Webster said the city has told construction crews to make sure the intersection of Hudson and High streets is open before, during and after the game.
Andrea Portier, an Ohio State University sophomore who lives on Hudson, said she anticipates heavier traffic outside her house as fans travel east toward I-71 after the game.“It’s going to take a lot more time to get in and out,” Portier said.
For Jon Lofton, the inconvenience comes in getting to work. He said he will walk to McFadden’s in the South Campus Gateway, where he is a kitchen manager.
“I’m going to be dealing with my own traffic,” Lofton said, referring to the post-game crowds expected at the restaurant and along N. High Street.
Fans should anticipate spending 40 minutes to get out of the traffic around Ohio Stadium, said Sarah Blouch, director of transportation and parking services for the university.
Kenny Road, west of Rt. 315, is a good alternative to High Street, Blouch said.
The university advises fans to arrive at least two hours before kickoff to find parking on campus, Blouch said.
Construction of a parking garage and academic building on Lane Avenue has eliminated some handicap parking spaces. The university is offering additional handicap parking in the Neil Avenue garage near Neil and 12th avenues.
COTA PRESS RELEASE:
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) is offering express and local bus service to all 2008 Ohio State University home football games. The season kicks off on Aug. 30, when the Buckeyes host Youngstown State University.
COTA has again partnered with the Ohio Expo Center to provide park and ride service from the Expo Center on 17th Avenue to Ohio Stadium on the OSU campus. COTA’s Expo Center express bus service will operate three hours before kick-off and two hours after each game.
“Each season, thousands of Buckeye fans choose COTA for transportation to and from the stadium without the hassles of traffic congestion and parking,” Bill Lhota, COTA President/CEO, said. “We look forward to another season providing OSU fans convenient and low-cost transportation for each home game.”
Fans will notice changes in the parking costs and bus fares this year. The fee to park at the Expo Center is $5, rather than last year’s charge of $10. Roundtrip bus fare to and from Ohio Stadium will cost $4 per adult, which is the price of regular express route bus service on COTA. Express buses will drop off and pick up passengers at Neil and 17th avenues, which is only about one block from the stadium.
More frequent COTA service from downtown to the stadium will be available on the #2 N. High St., #7 Neil Avenue, #8 Hamilton Avenue and #18 Kenny Road local bus lines. One-way fare on a local line is $1.50.
Direct service on the #31 Worthington Express to the stadium area also will operate before and after each home game. One-way express fare is $2, roundtrip fare is $4. Fans can park for free at the Crosswoods Park and Ride, 7460 Huntington Park Drive.
Fans may take the express bus without parking at the Expo Center for a roundtrip fee of $4 per adult. Children up to 12 years of age ride free (limit three children per family). Fans parking RV’s at the Expo Center also are invited to board the express bus to Ohio Stadium for a roundtrip fare of $4 per adult.
Service will be offered three hours before kick-off from Crosswoods Park and Ride and the Expo Center. For two hours after the game, fans can board an express bus back to the Expo Center or Crosswoods Park and Ride at Neil and 17th avenues, a northbound local line at Chittenden and High or a southbound local line at Woodruff and High.
More information about COTA service to Ohio State home football games is available on COTA’s website, http://www.cota.com, or by calling customer service at 614-228-1776.
Well, I didn’t take the bus or bike to the game, but I do feel kind of guilty about it. I ended up using my sister’s campus parking pass, which expires today, to park for free in a lot near the Med Campus. It’s hard to beat free parking. I also knew I’d be leaving the game early to try to get to Cleveland quickly for a family reunion, so I didn’t really want to be subject to transit schedules. I feel bad though. Sorry to COTA and get well soon to Beanie.