What to know about traffic, parking and more ahead of Penn State’s matchup with Ohio State

As third-ranked Penn State football prepares for its most important matchup so far this season, fans will need to prepare for changing traffic patterns, parking adjustments and varying transit routes ahead Saturday’s game against No. 4 Ohio State.

Saturday’s game kicks off at noon, and even though former President Donald Trump will now not be in attendance, traffic is still expected to be heavy as swarms of people make their way to Beaver Stadium. ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox Big Noon Kickoff will also both be set up near the stadium.

In a press release outlining parking and traffic information, Penn State encouraged fans to arrive early and allow extra time to get to campus Saturday morning.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the one-way traffic patterns and traffic restrictions will start on Park Avenue, Porter Road and other roads near the stadium, according to the university’s release.

Curtin Road will be closed between Bigler and Porter roads throughout game day. Drivers looking to access the East Parking Deck or Orange faculty parking areas located north of Services Road will only be able to do so by traveling eastbound on Park Avenue from Atherton Street, per the release. Park Avenue should be used only by football permit holders with West Zone and East Zone parking.

Football permit holders with South Zone parking will be the only drivers allowed on Porter Road, starting at 9:30 a.m. as well.

Parking lot closures, changes

Starting at midnight Saturday, the following campus parking lots will be closed until all outbound football traffic has departed Saturday evening:

• Commuter lots (Jordan East, Stadium West, Porter North, Porter South)
• Orange L (all sections)
• Yellow H (all sections)
• Yellow M
• Yellow V
• Orange A OPP (east and west)
• Orange A Katz
• Orange A HFS (section along Services Road)
• Orange H (all sections north of Hastings Road)
• Orange O (ICA Service Center/Meats Lab)
• Orange U (east half)
• Silver G
• Silver J (all sections)

According to the release, any vehicle still left in the parking lot after 2 a.m. Saturday morning will be towed. All faculty and student parking permits will be honored at their respective parking lots west of Bigler Road.

All on-campus parking decks will be open on game day, with some parking decks implementing a different cost structure than the others.

The East, HUB and Nittany parking decks will charge $2 to park for the first hour and $1 for the second hour, with a $40 fee being charged for more than two hours, the release reads.

The West Parking Deck will observe the same first and second-hour rates, but any car parking in the garage for over two hours will be charged a $25 fee. The Eisenhower Parking Deck offers parking Friday through Sunday for $45, and Saturday-only parking for $40.

All parking decks except Eisenhower will offer a daily parking rate of $2 for the first hour and $1 for each hour after, up to the $16 daily maximum, for Friday and Sunday.

Parking in all lots Saturday will open at 7 a.m., with more parking information available at gopsusports.com.

Penn State also reminded drivers in the release that on event weekends such as this one, all parking violations will be met with an increased fee.

“Drivers are reminded that all vehicles must be parked within all lines of a legal, non-reserved parking space,” the release reads. “Vehicles parked on the roadways, curbside ends of rows, etc., are subject to ticketing and/or towing at the owner’s expense. All parking areas require either head-in parking or for the vehicle to be parked so that the license plate faces the drive aisle.”

Drivers can also be fined for parking in the wrong area and for parking in a sign-specific spot, such as an American Disabilities Act, service or reserved parking space.

Changes to CATA routes

Saturday’s game will also affect three CATA routes — the Blue and White loops and the Red Link, according to the release.

Following its stop at the intersection of College Avenue and Allen Street, the Blue Loop will head up Curtin Street, where it will then make a two right turns down Bigler and Pollock roads, where it will then resume its normal route.

The White Loop, after making a stop at the intersection of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street, will follow its normal route to University Drive. From there, it will turn left on Hastings Road, right on Bigler Road, and left on Curtin Road, where the normal route will resume.

The Red Link, following a stop on Curtain Road at the Pavilion Theatre, will follow normal routing to the intersection with Bigler Road, where it will turn right on Eisenhower Road, right on Shortlidge Road, and left on Curtin Road, before resuming its normal route.

CATA will also offer its game day shuttle rides to help provide fans with transportation to and from Beaver Stadium, and Fullington Trailways will operate a shuttle to transport fans at various locations in Blair and Clearfield counties.

More information on CATA’s game day services can be found at the company’s website, and more information on Fullington Trailway’s services can be found on its website.

This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 5:53 AM.