Middle Tennessee State University will play host to the Division I High School Basketball Tournaments from March 13-16. While the athletes battle it out on the court, local drivers will face their challenge getting around the university's roads.
As students and staff gear up to return from spring break, Parking and Transportation Services is advising everyone to take note of the shake-up in the usual parking and traffic patterns. The Greenland Drive parking lot is now reserved solely for TSSAA ticket holders and comes with a $5 daily price tag, a change from the norm. The Middle Tennessee/Woodfin Lot is also earmarked for patrons of the event from March 6-9 and again on March 16, starting at noon.
According to a report by the City of Murfreesboro, local motorists should circle the MTSU’s East Main Street and Rutherford Boulevard entrances for the most convenient campus access during these dates. The Cope building’s east end arm gate will lift in welcome, granting passage to both the Midgett Lot and Old Main Circle. But take note, because Faulkinberry Drive is off the roster for campus traffic, shut down from Middle Tennessee Boulevard to Normal Way, to park team buses, and Normal Way will also be out of bounds.
Ron Malone, vice president of Events and Transportation at MTSU, told the City of Murfreesboro's website, “The TSSAA Tournaments attract thousands of prospective students, their families, alumni, and other university supporters on campus for these high school events. “We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in helping to make our visitors feel welcomed on campus.” To maintain the full-court press on efficiency, the Raider Xpress Shuttle Service will play its normal schedule, laying up an extra bus for the Red Route and benching the Green Route at the Greenland Drive Lot.
Those coming for other campus events during the tournaments will still be able to park first-come, first-served in any of MTSU's free lots – provided they can find an open spot, and remember, visitors will need to secure their parking passes on class days. For locals, and university faithful, it looks like a little extra planning will go a long way to navigating the full-court press of tournament traffic this March.
