In first Cowboys Stadium traffic test, no major bumps for motorists

By GORDON DICKSON

gdickson@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON — Cowboys Stadium passed its first traffic test on Saturday, with an estimated 60,000 fans arriving on streets and highways that were backed up for about two hours but remained passable at all times.

The first event at the stadium, a star-studded lineup of country stars led by George Strait, brought an estimated 24,000 cars and pickups into the entertainment district, collectively carrying about 60,000 fans.

With parking areas opening at 2 p.m. and the stadium itself opening less than two hours later, motorists had time to arrive in gradual waves.

But things were expected to be a bit more chaotic late Saturday and early today as most concertgoers were expected to leave en masse shortly after Strait’s last song.

Arlington police and fire officials said they were ready. At the city’s traffic management center inside police headquarters, technicians made adjustments to more than 200 traffic signals.

They monitored video from 90 traffic and security cameras at Cowboys Stadium, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and Six Flags Over Texas to determine which signals needed longer reds or greens and which intersections needed police on the ground.

"We spent the last two years preparing for this, and I feel our preparations are tight," said Don Crowson, Arlington assistant fire chief.

Mike Blake, the city’s intelligent transportation systems coordinator, added: "We assume it’s going to be twice as intense as it normally is for a Rangers game."

Motorists also benefited from at least 14 access points to Cowboys Stadium parking areas, compared with just three entries at the old Texas Stadium in Irving.

As a result, traffic was able to spread out.

And it appeared that many concert attendees took the team’s and the city’s advice and visited www.dallascowboysmaps.com before making their trip. The Web site allowed ticket holders to enter their ZIP code and assigned parking area to find the best route in and out of Arlington. The site even factored in which streets had blockages or temporary additional lanes.

Grand Prairie officials also retimed their lights so stadium visitors using the new Texas 161 frontage roads just east of Arlington could travel with fewer stops.

The stadium opening has also expanded the cottage industry of entrepreneurial parking — the practice of off-site property owners luring ticket holders to park on their improvised lot — to areas of the city that had never tried it before.

"People underestimate the value of getting out quickly," said parking lot attendant Patrick Kiely, who was selling spaces for $10 in an office strip center along Randol Mill Road, east of Six Flags Drive. That’s a walk of more than a mile to the stadium, but Kiely noted that his customers not only paid just a fraction of the $40 for official Cowboys Stadium parking, but when they leave, they’re only one traffic signal away from the Texas 360 on-ramps.

Businesses along Division Street sold parking spots for $35, but then dropped the price to $30 about 5 p.m. to lure more customers. Bill Testa of the Candlelight Inn charged customers $30 but gave them a $10 rebate if they had a bite to eat in his restaurant, which serves steaks, pizza, tacos and other fare.

At least 20 carloads of people took him up on the offer.

"We’re going to come up with some different deals for Cowboys games," Testa said.

At a CiCi’s Pizza on Collins Street, right across the street from the Cowboys Stadium west entrance, a sign read: "Safe Parking $60 Includes Free Pizza."

So much for the $5.99 all-you-can-eat buffet?

GORDON DICKSON, 817-390-7796

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