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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1994)
Extra helpings for football Saturdays Stadium streets adjusted to help clear-up traffic By K«lll Bamsey Staff Reporter Traffic, an undeniable problem at Comhusker football games, may move a little smoother this season, said a Lincoln traffic official. The Lincoln police department, Lincoln Traffic Engineering and StarTran have been working to make the traffic around Memorial Stadium move more efficiently, said Kelly Sieckmeyer of Lincoln Traffic Engi neering. He said several new street changes have been made for the first home football game. This year, the 10th Street viaduct will be open for two-way traffic flow up to Military Road. Stadium Drive will be closed between T and U streets for all home football Saturdays, and north Avery Avenue will have eastbound traffic only. As in past years, 14th Street will be a one-way northbound street from Avery Avenue to Comhusker High way. Sieckmeyer said the new changes would make the area near the stadium safer for pedestrians. Although the changes in traffic patterns were developed to make travel easier for vehicles, Sieckmeyer said he expected some problems, espec ial ly for the first game. “The changes to the whole area will be relatively new,” he said. “The first game will present some problems for fans coming to Lincoln from out of town.” Sieckmeyer said he expected some confused football fans in Lincoln on Saturday. But he expected the second and third home games to be easier once people learn the new traffic sys tem. StarTran also will be helping curb traffic problems. Larry Worth of StarTran said one change had been made in the StarTran route: the addi tion of a StarTran operation from Gateway Mall. The new traffic system will be in place for the duration of the football season unless it does not work. If that happens, changes will be made for the next home Comhusker football game. Sieckmeyer said. I i _-B-« Kai Wilken/Df Security teams enforce rules, patrol, help out By Matthew Twtdell Staff Reporter The Runzas and Fairbury Flot Dogs are gone from Memorial Stadium dur ing game days this year. But Valentino’s pizza, a new sound system and video boards have been added. So has a new Stadium Assistance Team. On game days this year, the stands at football games will be populated with people wearing gold jackets with black lettering that have “Security” on the back, said Joe Selig, assistant ath letic director for facilities and events. The Stadium Assistance Team is made up of cadets and midshipmen from University of Nebraska-Lincoln ROTC units. They will be positioned in every section in the stadium. University Police Sgt. Bill Man ning said he wanted them to have first contact with fans about violations of the rules and regulations. But the patrolmen won’t look only for violations, he said. “The Stadium Assistance Team will also serve to help,” Manning said. “They’re not just looking for trouble.” The team will help with ushering, finding missing persons and enforc ing the smoking rules inside the sta dium. They also will help with medi cal or ticket problems and other situ ations. Manning said police and first aid teams, who have traditionally moni tored the stadium, will be in radio contact with the Stadium Assistance Team and can be summoned when necessary. University police have conducted training sessions with the Stadium Assistance Team, Manning said. He said the team was given “some of what they can expect.” The team learned proper radio pro cedure, went on a stadium tour to get familiar with the setting and learned how to deal with various situations. Selig said the team would be a helpful addition to the stadium. “We want fans to think ofthe people on the Stadium Assistance Team as the ‘go-to’ people when they have problems,” Selig said. l UNL transportation official projects no parking fee increases for awhile By Angle Schndt Staff Reporter Last year’s parking fee increases have helped UNL Parking Services enough that no new fee increases will be coming soon, said a UNL parking official. “We will have no more increases in parking permits in the foreseeable fu ture, at least of that magnitude,” said Mike Cacak, manager of Transporta tion Services. Free bus service for all students and staff and new paving in several parking lots are some of the benefits from the increased reserve parking permit price, said Tad McDowell, University of Nebraska-Lincoln park ing manager. The price of reserved parking per mits went up 100 percent last year. That contributed to a 12 percent in crease in net profits since last year, McDowell said at a Parking Advisory Committee meeting Thursday. Before its regular meeting, the com mittee toured both city and east cam puses to view parking improvements. Meter prices also were increased. That increase paid for two new lots, paved four rough lots, lit two lots, striped and sealed two lots and en hanced one lot, McDowell said. “We will have no more increases in parking permits in the foreseeable future, at least of that magnitude, ” MIKE CACAK manager of Transportation Services. Equipment used to issue citation: also has been updated. The new, more efficient equipment lets parking offi cials write more tickets, bringing in more revenue, McDowell said. Committee member Richard Duncan, a law professor representing the Academic Senate, repeated com plaints he had heard regarding the new bus service. Students, staff and faculty who do not have parking permits still receive free bus service, Duncan said, but that bus service is paid for by parking fees. On the other hand, he said he had heard complaints from people who paid parking fees but did not use the bus. Those people feel they should not have to help pay for the bus service, he said. But McDowell said the increase in prices also subsidized more police enforcement and protection. The po I ice serve everyone, he said—not just those who park. Duncan said the committee should have considered these problems be fore the bus service was bought. “I know that the decision has been made, but in the future, we should consider increases careful ly,” Duncan said. McDowell said there had been a noticeable difference in the crowding in the lots this year, because of the higher prices. Faculty and staff per mits went down from last year. Stu dent reserved went down 50 percent. Not only did the amount of permits sold go down, but so did the com plaints, McDowell said. And the number of people riding the bus has gone up, Cacak said. According to StarTran, the bus ser vice that is providing free rides to UNL students and staff, more than 2,000 more riders were on the number 24 Holdrege Street route during the second week of school. Reach Into For all of your comics, games, animation, Magic: The Gathering & Non sports cards. 233 N. 48th Suite Q between the Target and Super Saver. 466-6066 There are no small . victories in the fight Ame'ic^^r' C M against heart disease. Association © 1992, American Heart Association