Traffic and Parking Changes in Effect for Penn State Graduation, Student Move-Out

Drivers can expect heavy traffic and a number of parking changes on the University Park campus and in State College during a busy upcoming weekend at Penn State.

The university will hold commencement ceremonies Friday, May 3, to Sunday, May 5, while departing students who haven’t already packed up for the summer will also be moving out.

Here’s a look at what’s in store for parking and traffic, according to State College Borough and Penn State Transportation Services.

STATE COLLEGE BOROUGH

The State College Parking Department will not be enforcing the “No Parking 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.” and the one- and two-hour restrictions beginning from noon
on Friday until 2 a.m. on Monday. No lawn parking is permitted and all vehicle code violations will be enforced.

CAMPUS MOVE-OUT

• Twenty-minute loading and unloading (with four-ways on) is permitted through Sunday in student lots and these faculty/staff lots:

• Brown E
• Green C
• Green N
• Yellow H Softball
• Yellow J
• Yellow T
• Yellow D surface lot 

The ground level of the East Deck is also reserved for student departure vehicle loading.

• Fraser Road is restricted to northbound traffic only through Sunday, Entrance is via Pollock Road with the bollards on Fraser removed to allow exit to Curtin Road.

• Student departure vehicle loading is permitted along the east side of Burrowes Road between Pollock Road and Curtin Road. Burrowes remains open to two-way traffic, but drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.

• No CATA service will be available on Burrowes Road through Saturday.

GRADUATION PARKING AND TRAFFIC

Bryce Jordan Center (Friday through Sunday)

• Curtin Road will also be closed to vehicle traffic between University Drive and the entrance to the Jordan East lot throughout most of the commencement ceremonies, which will occur on the following schedule:

• 4:30 p.m. Friday – Schreyer Honors College Medal Ceremony
• 7 p.m. Friday – College of Engineering
• 9 a.m. Saturday – Smeal College of Business
• 1 p.m. Saturday – Bellisario College of Communications
• 4:30 p.m. Saturday – College of the Liberal Arts
• 9 a.m. Sunday – College of Health and Human Development
• 1 p.m. Sunday – Eberly College of Science
• 4:30 p.m. Sunday – The Graduate School (Master’s Degrees)

• General parking will be available for commencement ceremonies at the Jordan Center in the Jordan East (accessible via Porter Road and Dauer Drive), Stadium West (via Park Avenue) and Porter North (via Porter Road) lots.

• ADA parking will be available in the northwest corner of Jordan East near BJC Gate B, Lot Orange L between the Bryce Jordan Center and Jordan East and the southwest corner of Stadium West near the University Drive/Curtin Road intersection.

• Guest drop-off in drive lanes is prohibited.

Pegula Ice Arena (Saturday and Sunday)

• The following commencement ceremonies will be held at Pegula Ice Arena:

• 9 a.m. Saturday – College of Information Sciences and Technology
• 1 p.m. Saturday – College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
• 9 a.m. Sunday – College of Education
• 1 p.m. Sunday – College of Agricultural Sciences
• 4:30 p.m. Sunday – The Graduate School (Doctoral Degrees)

• Visitors for ceremonies at Pegula are encouraged to park at the East Parking Deck.

• ADA parking will be available at the section of Lot Yellow H at Shields Building, located on Curtin Road just north of Pegula.

Eisenhower Auditorium (Saturday)

• The following commencement ceremonies will be held at Eisenhower Auditorium

• 1 p.m. Saturday – College of Arts and Architecture
• 4:30 p.m. Saturday – Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing

• Guests attending these ceremonies should park at the adjacent Eisenhower Parking Deck on Eisenhower Road. General and ADA parking is available on each level.

• Heavy traffic is expected Saturday on the east side of campus because of ceremonies at the Bryce Jordan Center and Pegula Ice Arena. Drivers heading to Eisenhower Auditorium are urged to avoid the Park Avenue exits from I-99 and 322, as well as University Drive. Instead they should use the Route 322 Business exits at the south and north ends of Atherton Street. From Atherton Street, drivers should approach Eisenhower Auditorium from the west side of campus, using Park Avenue or Curtin Road to Shortlidge Road to Eisenhower Road.

There is no charge for any commencement parking this weekend.