GameDay comes to Pullman, causing transit emergency
Bus services increased to accommodate up to 100,000 fans
Thousands of Cougar faithful - dressed in mostly crimson - lined the streets of downtown Pullman and the Washington State University campus Wednesday afternoon to greet College GameDay on its first visit to Pullman.
The crowd is only expected to grow in the coming days, and that has the city scrambling.
The Pullman City Council declared a public transportation emergency Tuesday night to ensure there will be enough buses Friday and Saturday to accommodate the roughly 100,000 people expected to attend ESPN College GameDay and watch the Cougs take on the University of Oregon Ducks on Saturday.
Transit Manager Wayne Thompson said the emergency declaration was made so Pullman Transit could provide charter service without advertising it to private charter providers.
Thompson said WSU contacted two private charter companies asking to provide more buses and cover additional routes, but they were unable to provide any services.
With the private buses unable to lend support, Thompson said the transportation emergency needed to be declared. He even said some Pullman Transit employees have been called in from vacation to offer the extra services.
"With such short notice, this was our only option to help WSU on top of what we already do with our regular routes and our typical pregame bus shuttles," Thompson said. "(The declaration) is really required to allow us to do the shuttle service on short notice."
He said a public transportation emergency has not been declared in his seven years working for Pullman Transit.
City officials estimate up to 100,000 people could populate Pullman for College GameDay and the WSU football game Saturday.
City Attorney Laura McAloon added the emergency declaration is simply a technicality to make sure the city is in compliance with Federal Transit Administration grant conditions.
Thompson estimated the transit service will provide as many as 12 extra routes over the course of Friday and Saturday.
According to the city of Pullman
website, two shuttle buses will run 5 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. from Lot 3 (located at Terre View Drive and State Route 270) to the Bustad Hall stop on Stadium Way near Martin Stadium for riders wanting to attend College GameDay.
Three shuttle buses will run 9-11 a.m. from Bailey Brayton Field to much of Apartment Land, including Brandi Way, Emerald Downs and the Providence Court areas.
Thompson said the most recent situation like this was almost two years ago when heavy snowfall forced the closure of Pullman Transit routes.
"This is like nothing we have probably ever seen before and we think we got an early start on it," Thompson said.
He said he expects the biggest challenge to be detours and blocked roads put in place on campus to accommodate the College GameDay stage. A portion of Stadium Way will be blocked as a result of the College GameDay set and the large crowd it is expected to draw.
"Any Friday before a WSU football game is busy starting shortly after noon, but this one is like no other," Thompson said.
He is hoping for high ridership on Friday and Saturday to prevent traffic congestion.
"There will be congestion," Thompson said. "It will be potentially chaotic, but we really believe these extra buses will help."
College GameDay Communications Manager Derek Volner said he is unaware of a public transportation emergency ever happening as a result of the show visiting a town.
"I do think it plays into the hype of us coming and the excitement our fans have and the excitement we have to go there," Volner said. "It's always exciting when the community embraces us."
The show visits the site of a premier college football matchup from 6-9 a.m. each Saturday. Fans typically cheer in the background of the show's set.
No. 25 WSU hosts the 12th-ranked University of Oregon Ducks at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Martin Stadium in Pullman.
To view the times and details of the extra transportation services this weekend, visit http://www.pullman-wa.gov/departments/pullman-transit/52-departments/pullman-transit/1877-extra-game-day-service.
Garrett Cabeza can be reached at (208) 883-4631, or by email to gcabeza@dnews.com.
