Campus Life

Parking, traffic and transit information for Special Olympics

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Transportation Services has announced parking, traffic and transit information for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games, to be held on campus from Thursday, June 2, through Saturday, June 4.With several thousand athletes, coaches, support staff, volunteers and spectators expected at venues across campus this weekend, drivers are urged to use extreme caution and allow extra time to reach their destinations.Advisories for athlete arrival and opening ceremoniesAthletes, coaches and support staff will check in at Beaver Stadium and move into the South and Pollock residence hall areas between 9 a.m. and noon on Thursday. The check-in process will result in heavy bus traffic along Curtin Road between University Drive and Porter Road, and drivers are encouraged to avoid this area on Thursday morning. Also during this time, both Mifflin Road and McKean Road in the South and Pollock residence hall areas will be restricted to bus and Special Olympics traffic only.Opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games will be held at Medlar Field at 7 p.m. Thursday, with the Parade of Athletes to take place on Curtin Road between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Buses will transport participants from the South and Pollock residence halls to the parade site, with pickup staging in the eastbound lane of Pollock Road between Burrowes Road and Shortlidge Road from 4:15 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Buses will then travel east on Pollock Road, south on Mifflin Road, east on McKean Road, east on Hastings Road, and north on University Drive, dropping off participants at the bus pull-off area near the Bryce Jordan Center. Buses will then stage at the Porter North lot before returning participants to the residence hall areas after the opening ceremonies have concluded.In preparation for these events, the following traffic and parking restrictions will be in place Thursday evening:

  • Curtin Road will be closed from University Drive to Porter Road from approximately 5:15 through 7:30 p.m.
  • All exiting traffic on Pollock Road between Burrowes Road and Shortlidge Road will be required to travel west on Pollock to Burrowes from approximately 4:15 through 7 p.m.
  • Mifflin and McKean roads will be restricted to buses only from approximately 4:15 through 7 p.m.
  • Approximately 200 parking spaces in the southwest corner of the Stadium West parking lot will be blocked all day on Thursday.
  • The Porter North parking lot will be closed all day Thursday.
  • Closing ceremonies will be held on Saturday afternoon, and both Mifflin and McKean roads will again be impacted by bus traffic as participants move out of the South and Pollock residence hall areas.

Parking information

Spectator and volunteer parking for the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games will be available at the following areas this weekend:

  • Lot 44 — located east of the Bryce Jordan Center
  • Stadium West — located west of Beaver Stadium
  • Lot 83 East — located along Porter Road, south of the outdoor track
  • Those attending or volunteering at track and field events are encouraged to park at Lot 83 East.
  • Parking for coaches, athletes and support staff will be available at Lot 81, located in the South and Pollock residence hall areas.

Questions related to event parking may be directed to the University Parking Office by phone at 814-865-1436 or by email at parking@psu.edu.

Transit information

To reduce congestion on campus roadways this weekend, spectators and volunteers are encouraged to walk or use one of the available transit services to travel between event venues.

CATA’s Blue Loop service will be available each day from 4:45 a.m. through 10 p.m., with service to a variety of campus locations. More information can be found by visiting the CATA website.

A special venue loop shuttle will also operate from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, providing transportation to and from the following event venues:

  • South/Pollock residence areas (from McKean Road near Redifer Commons)
  • Outdoor track
  • Ag Arena
  • Softball Park (from the Katz Building parking lot)
  • IM Building (from Curtin Road)
  • Natatorium (from Curtin Road near East Halls)

For information or questions related to the venue loop, please contact Fleet Operations by phone at 814-865-7571.

Map and Additional Information

Click on the Special Olympics 2016 Google Map to view a map of the event areas.

Visit the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer games website for more information on this weekend’s event.

Last Updated June 6, 2016