Oxford ready for Texas A&M
Published 12:00 pm Friday, October 23, 2015
With the University of Mississippi Rebels back at home this weekend, crowds are expected to be large as they take on Texas A&M at 6 p.m. Saturday.
To help accommodate locals and visitors the city of Oxford and Ole Miss have several options to move people around and get them safely to the Grove and Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium.
Fans may park at FNC Park, Oxford High School, and the Jackson Avenue Center and spend $5 to be shuttled to the campus by Cline Tour buses. The buses run every 10 minutes and will start running at noon.
The FNC Park parking lot is a new option this football season, which creates many more available parking spaces for those who don’t mind a little drive up Old Sardis Road. Parking officials said more and more people are starting to use the lot to park and ride to the game.
“We would like to ask fans to park at FNC Park if at all possible,” said Oxford Police Department Maj. Jeff McCutchen. “Many spots are available and they have not been used to full capacity during the last few games.”
The Oxford-University Transit will have two buses running every 15 minutes starting at 6 a.m. Saturday morning. The buses will pick up from the Jackson Avenue Center near the Old Oxford Mall and stop about two hours after the game. The university funds the game-day shuttle service.
The OUT shuttles are free of charge, however transit officials ask everyone to visit the OUT website, www.oxfordms.net/visitors/gameday-shuttle-service.html, to read the rules of what items are allowed or not allowed to be carried onto the buses, including tents, pets and large coolers over 40 quarts.
Backpacks and track bags are not allowed on shuttles or in the stadium.
Game day visitors to campus who have a permit to park on campus will be permitted to enter campus from any campus entrance except those on Gertrude-Ford Boulevard. Permit holders must park only in the lot type that matches their permit designation.
The Double Decker bus will also be running people to the Grove from the Square at no charge.
To ensure everyone has a fun and safe time celebrating before and after the game, OPD will have an increased presence in and around the downtown Square.
Our goal is to be proactive in preventing any disturbances or unsafe activities, and as always do not hesitate to contact us should the need arise,” McCutchen said.
After the game, all traffic traveling eastbound or westbound on West Jackson Avenue will only be allowed to make right turns at intersections, no one will be allowed to make a left turn crossing traffic.
“This will ensure the most efficient exit from the center of the city,” McCutchen said. “Expect delays in traffic as everyone is leaving Oxford at once.”
OPD will work with MDOT to electronically monitor the Highway 6 and Jackson Avenue intersection.
City and law enforcement officials remind everyone that parking on grass or where the curb is yellow is illegal and vehicles will be towed.
Long-term parking is discouraged from the downtown Square. Meters will be programmed to only allow someone to pay for three hours at a time.
Meters will only allow someone to pay for up to three hours at a time. If someone wants to park longer, they cannot pay any more money until the meter runs out after three hours.
Game day parking fines are $50 for the first violation; $75 for the second and $100 for three or more in a 12-month period.
For more information, follow OPD on Twitter @OxfordPolice and Facebook, tune in to AM 1630, FM 93.7 and FM 105.1 for game and traffic updates, or call OPD at 662-232-2400 or the Oxford Parking Division at 662-232-8605.