While the University of Tennessee at Knoxville is urging fans to arrive at Neyland Stadium "significantly" earlier on Saturday, KAT bus shuttles from downtown will run their normal schedule and could face delays with President Donald Trump attending the Tennessee-Texas game.
Weigh your options if you typically rely on Knoxville Area Transit shuttles on game days. The ride from downtown pickup locations to the dropoff spot near Neyland Stadium could take between 20 and 30 minutes, KAT spokesperson Dylana Kent told Knox News.
KAT's shuttle service will begin when stadium gates open at 9 a.m. Sept. 26. The university moved the gate opening up by 30 minutes to accommodate enhanced security measures for the blockbuster matchup.
“We didn’t really want
to change that for this game just because fans are used to that three-hour mark (before kickoff), and that’s standard for our operations,” Kent said.
Tennessee-Texas football shuttle pick-up and dropoff locations
Shuttles pick up passengers at Krutch Park near Market Square, as well as on Willow Avenue in the Old City, which is new this week as part of KAT's plans for SEC opponents. It was not added in response to the president's visit.
“Obviously, with the attendance of President Donald Trump, we’re expecting heavier congestion and some traffic delays,” Kent said. “We’re trying to be very forward with attendees, and also our fixed-route passengers, to anticipate delays and really prepare to get there ahead of time wherever it is they’re going, whether that be the game or just their daily trips.”
KAT will have between 10 and 12 shuttles running between pick-up locations and the main campus drop-off at the Walters Life Sciences Building on the Hill.
“It’s kind of an all hands-on-deck situation,” Kent said.
Shuttles are cashless, and passengers need to purchase a $10 round-trip pass on the Transit app. Return service will operate as normal, starting at the beginning of the fourth quarter and continuing until one hour after the game ends.
KAT also offers a park-and-ride option from the Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum garages for $30 per vehicle, which includes the cost of parking and the round-trip shuttle. The A and B garages open at 8 a.m., with shuttle service starting at 9 a.m.
KAT's LIFT paratransit service will pick up passengers and one companion at the Civic Auditorium garages. Drop-off is at the Student Union.
What security changes will be in place for Neyland Stadium?
Along with Neyland opening gates at 9 a.m., there will be an increased security presence on campus. The Knoxville Police Department is preparing to assist with Trump’s visit.
Enhanced security screenings will be conducted by the Secret Service at all stadium gates, and wait times are expected to increase the closer it gets to kickoff. Fans who leave the stadium after their ticket is scanned will not be allowed back inside.
In addition to Neyland Stadium's clear bag policy and prohibited items, the Secret Service has its own list of items that are not allowed at secretservice.gov/prohibiteditems.
Congestion is expected throughout campus starting several hours before kickoff, with the possibility of temporary road closures, traffic control measures and pedestrian rerouting.
Fans should have their mobile tickets ready as they approach Neyland, as additional security checkpoints and verification procedures will be in place around the stadium.
Adam Sparks, Tennessee football reporter for Knox News, contributed to this report.
Keenan Thomas is the higher education reporter for Knox News. Email: keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee-Texas shuttles won't start early, and rides could be delayed
