Fair's Park N' Ride Program Shifts Into Gear
Getting the family to the county fair just got easier and more affordable with the Stanislaus County Fair's new free Park 'N Ride program.
Now, Fair patrons can park free at California State University Stanislaus or at Pitman High School and ride free to and from the Stanislaus County Fair's historical Arch Gate entrance. This completely free shuttle service will run nightly during the 10 days of Fair from 4:30 until 11 p.m. with shuttles departing every 15 minutes.
"We saw the need for a Park 'N Ride program and felt that launching it the year of the Fair's 'Renewable Fun' theme was most appropriate," said Pennie Rorex, spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. "The free shuttle service will make attending the Fair easier for our Fair guests and they can save both time and money."
"This would not be possible without the support of CSU Stanislaus and the Turlock Unified School District, who have graciously provided the parking lots. Also vital to the program's success is collaboration from the City of Turlock—the Police Department, Engineering (Traffic and Buses) and Municipal Services," said Rorex.
Because the Fair is such a popular family outing, the Fair's two parking lots often fill to capacity depending on the nightly celebrity concert and/or the evening's motorsport event. In addition, on some evenings there can be significant traffic impact surrounding the Fairgrounds.
Idling cars also raise carbon emissions during the summer run. With the new Park 'N Ride program, guests using the shuttles will reduce carbon emissions and spend less time in Fair time traffic, not to mention saving time remembering where they parked.
Fair patrons can still park in the Fairground's west and north parking lots. On-site parking is $4 per vehicle at the Fairgrounds. Parking at the CSUS and Pitman High is free of charge.
The California State University Stanislaus parking and shuttle location is on Crowell, between Monte Vista and Ansel Adams Boulevard and offers 800 parking spaces. The Pitman High School shuttle stop is at 2525 West Christofferson Parkway and offers 400 parking spaces. Parking is on a space-available basis and cannot be guaranteed.
Jorge Ramos and Carlos Fagundes both worked the Pitman Park N' Ride location and said that people get a place to park their cars where they're monitored, get a ride to the Fair without fighting traffic, get a ride back, and all for free.
Delta Charter bus driver Kerry Griggs said that the service is definitely being used and everyone is enjoying it.
Guests traveling by freeway may exit Fulkerth or use the alternative of Taylor Road or Monte Vista exits for shuttle parking lots. Once parked, shuttle guests will board comfortable air-conditioned charter buses for a short ride to the Fair's historical Arch Gate entrance. Shuttles will cycle between the Fairgrounds and shuttle parking lots every 15 minutes. Shuttle buses are not wheelchair accessible.
At the Fairgrounds, handicapped parking is provided in both the Fair's west and north parking lots. For guest convenience, complimentary Fairground guest tram service is provided in both of these parking lots. The tram in the north parking lot is wheelchair accessible.
City of Turlock Activity Update for the week of July 25 – 31, 2009
Turlock Planning Commission Meeting Agenda 08-06-09