After Game Traffic Control / Flow

**CycloneDaddy** · 11-24-2012, 11:04 PM

I park in S6 ... is it me or does traffic flow after the game totally suck donkey balls for the S lots?

I live in Johnston so I would like to go to be able to head south on University Blvd so that I can catch Hwy 30 over to South Dakota. To be able to do this I need to take a left out of S6 to get onto S. 4th.

Sounds pretty simple besides the fact that the parking lot attendants stop the traffic flow anytime anyone in lot 85E thinks about leaving. Then to make matters worse they won't let anyone head East on S 4th so that G7 can be cleared out.

I was about 2 seconds away last night from driving through the grass, hopping the sidewalk and getting on University Blvd last night.

Am I just being a whiny *****???

**alarson** · 11-24-2012, 11:10 PM

Honestly... for traffic mgmt its probably best that they limit traffic flow pretty hard as far as directions go. If you get everyone out of the densely packed stadium area, even if some have to drive a bit farther distance ultimately everyone sits in line a shorter period of time and gets home faster once they get out onto normal streets.

I've contended for awhile that for basketball games that if they didnt let people from all lots exit both left and right from all exits (especially onto S4th st), those lots would clear out much faster and thus even taking a longer distance, most people would make it where they were going faster.

That said, S16th and university could use a pedestrian tunnel. That holdup there is a big reason for delays, having to give pedestrians a turn every cycle.

**alarson** · 11-24-2012, 11:15 PM

Also, do they let S6 turn right and go out via the S16th exit? That would seem to be faster down to 30, though i cant remember the exact traffic flow they do from there (i'm just down in S4, but typically with how long our tailgate takes to tear down, i'm one of the last out of the lots)

**CycloneDaddy** · 11-24-2012, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

Also, do they let S6 turn right and go out via the S16th exit? That would seem to be faster down to 30, though i cant remember the exact traffic flow they do from there (i'm just down in S4, but typically with how long our tailgate takes to tear down, i'm one of the last out of the lots)

If I go out right out of S6 my only option is to go North on University Blvd ... which never use to be a problem until they stop letting me go East on S 4th.

Trust me, I would much rather just hang out in the lots and drink another beer or 2 and let traffic clear but with a wife and kid with me and needing to pick another one up at the grandparents house on the way home it isn't that simple for me :-)

**nboltz** · 11-24-2012, 11:20 PM

Why call out G7? We aren't as close and mind our own business.

**CycloneDaddy** · 11-24-2012, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by nboltz

Why call out G7? We aren't as close and mind our own business.

I love G7 folks but you have tot totally screwed me with closing down S. 4th St.

If they would just build an access road from the S lots to University Blvd I would be happy. Also, a pedestrian bridge/tunnel across University Blvd would do wonders.

**nboltz** · 11-24-2012, 11:29 PM

I'm screwed as well, I need to go west on S. 4th, but can't because of the S lots.

**besserheimerphat** · 11-25-2012, 01:19 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneDaddy

I live in Johnston so I would like to go to be able to head south on University Blvd so that I can catch Hwy 30 over to South Dakota. To be able to do this I need to take a left out of S6 to get onto S. 4th.

You lost me at the bolded part. Use the S lot access on the SE side of the stadium where S 16th St. makes a tee with University. You come out of the lots onto University, and a right (southbound) turn is the easy one to make. About a half mile and you jump onto Hwy 30 West to South Dakota. There's no reason to drive any other street but southbound University from the S lots if you're going to Hwy 30. I've been S4/S5 for the past few years and never had a problem getting out - like from the lots to home in less than 30 minutes every time. I lived in north Ames most recently and they always let me turn northbound on University from this access as well.

**abe2010** · 11-25-2012, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneDaddy

I was about 2 seconds away last night from driving through the grass, hopping the sidewalk and getting on University Blvd last night.

Am I just being a whiny *****???

the bolded is a great idea until you about run over people on the sidewalk like someone did by hilton after the game. i almost sacrificed my cooler to take out a window on that suv

**swarthmoreCY** · 11-25-2012, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by alarson

Honestly... for traffic mgmt its probably best that they limit traffic flow pretty hard as far as directions go. If you get everyone out of the densely packed stadium area, even if some have to drive a bit farther distance ultimately everyone sits in line a shorter period of time and gets home faster once they get out onto normal streets.

QFT

**Enginerd** · 11-25-2012, 11:57 PM

The traffic control on Friday was an embarrassment. I am an out-of-stater and this was my first game this year so I am hoping it was due to the holiday/scheduling conflicts of their "A" team staff. If this is a weekly thing they need to reach out to their engineering professionals for some consultation. The fact that any roads near the stadium are allowed to be two way in the immediate hour after the event is the first and most major problem. You would not allow that for a 10,000 seat venue much less a sold out Jack Trice. I knoew this because I just helped a venue and a City develop the traffic control plan. If Friday is standard operating procedure I hope no one from ISU was involved.

**mtowncyclone13** · 11-26-2012, 07:50 AM

We park at hyvee and walk. When we used to park in the student lot it was always a pain leaving. Now that we walk 15 mins east it never us long once we get to our car. And they do need a pedestrian walkway over University. Make it brick to match those columns

**CyMania** · 11-26-2012, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Enginerd

The traffic control on Friday was an embarrassment. I am an out-of-stater and this was my first game this year so I am hoping it was due to the holiday/scheduling conflicts of their "A" team staff. If this is a weekly thing they need to reach out to their engineering professionals for some consultation. The fact that any roads near the stadium are allowed to be two way in the immediate hour after the event is the first and most major problem. You would not allow that for a 10,000 seat venue much less a sold out Jack Trice. I knoew this because I just helped a venue and a City develop the traffic control plan. If Friday is standard operating procedure I hope no one from ISU was involved.

The Fact that it took less then an hour to empty The stadium lots and the Hilton Lots, along with the G7 lot says a lot about the plan thats in place.

South 4th east bound is only shut down for as long as its needed (until G7 is a trickle out?), then they revert back to the single lane out of G7. The 4 Games that they've done that it seem to have worked out pretty well.

**CyMania** · 11-26-2012, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

You lost me at the bolded part. Use the S lot access on the SE side of the stadium where S 16th St. makes a tee with University. You come out of the lots onto University, and a right (southbound) turn is the easy one to make.

This only works IF you are our before the game ends or before its manned by ISU DPS. They were talking about S6, which, once manned by DPS, you are only allowed to go north from the left lane, and since they put up barricades to force S5-8 to go north, you cant easily go South.

About a half mile and you jump onto Hwy 30 West to South Dakota. There's no reason to drive any other street but southbound University from the S lots if you're going to Hwy 30. I've been S4/S5 for the past few years and never had a problem getting out - like from the lots to home in less than 30 minutes every time. I lived in north Ames most recently and they always let me turn northbound on University from this access as well.

If you are in S4 then you have it made getting out, you can go south since you are forced to go that way. Once DPS mans the intersection Right lane goes south, Left lane goes North. (I am not sure who gets to go straight across to South 16th).

**4Cyclones** · 11-26-2012, 08:12 AM

S5 & S6 are not allowed to go south from the southeast corner of their lots, and are forced to go north on univ and follow traffic north and then east or west and find a way back south. This sucks thonkey donkey balls previously quoted. You should go north on frontage road to south 4th, then they will let traffic go right (south) on univ. This prevents crossing lanes at SE intsection and univ. which does speed traffic. We just stay at tailgate for 1+ hours after game to mis traffic.

You can sit in traffic or at tailgate for the hour, your choice, but you will arrive home at near same time.