Public Advised to Plan Ahead for Heavy Traffic During UMass Commencement and Move-out

Source: UMass News and Media

The public should plan ahead and expect heavy traffic, some delays and road closures getting to and from the University of Massachusetts Amherst due to student move-out and Commencement activities Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19.

Move-out for students is planned for Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17. The Graduate Commencement Ceremony at McGuirk Alumni Stadium is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, May 17, and Undergraduate Commencement will be held at McGuirk Stadium at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Commonwealth Honors College will hold its ceremony on Thursday evening, and various schools and colleges across campus will hold their individual senior recognition ceremonies throughout both Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout the week, drivers should be aware of pedestrians and observant of all crosswalks, and they are asked to follow the direction of police officers posted in high-volume areas to control traffic.

The campus will remain open for general business on Friday, May 17. All personnel reporting to campus that morning should plan accordingly due to street closures and the heavy traffic expected for Graduate Commencement.

Visitor Parking and Shuttle Bus Information, May 17-19 
Visitors to campus on Friday through Sunday for Commencement and senior recognition ceremonies are asked to park upon arrival and utilize the university’s free shuttle bus service. It is strongly recommended that visitors arrive as early as possible, allowing at least 45 minutes upon arrival on campus to park and travel by bus or walk to the events.

• Friday, May 17 – Parking shuttles will operate only between Lot 12 and Lot 25 to and from McGuirk Stadium from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. During all other times, regular weekday UMass Transit service will operate, including UMass Campus Shuttle Route 34 and Campus Shuttle Route 35 that serve most campus areas and are free to ride.
  
• Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 – Parking shuttles will operate in a continuous single direction, counter-clockwise loop from primary parking and campus areas to and from McGuirk Stadium, Mullins Center, and other campus venues from 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Visitors to campus should follow the UMass Police directed traffic routes to designated parking areas and look for nearby UMass Shuttle signage and staff. Additional buses will run directly to and from major lots and venues during peak event times. Service will operate every 10-20 minutes, depending on traffic congestion and event schedules.

Local Road Closures and Traffic Pattern Changes, May 16-19 
Traffic patterns, including one-way designations for streets, concourse travel and loading zones, will change on Thursday, May 16, and Friday, May 17, for the Southwest and Commonwealth Honors College residential communities. Details regarding parking and traffic pattern adjustments for these areas can be found at https://www.umass.edu/living/move-out.

During Commencement and Senior Ceremony festivities Friday through Sunday, the following road closures will be in effect to allow buses to more easily transport guests to and from ceremonies.

University Drive will be closed: 

• Friday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
• Saturday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday between Massachusetts Avenue and Amity Street from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fearing Street west of Sunset Avenue will be open only to vehicles moving students out from John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Washington, Cance, Pierpont and Moore residential halls all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Rocky Hill Road east of North Maple Street will be closed Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Plainville Road will be closed to traffic at North Maple Street Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

North Pleasant Street will be closed Saturday between Eastman Lane and Massachusetts Avenue from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Traffic on Commonwealth Avenue will be limited from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. Commonwealth Avenue will be closed from Holdsworth Way to Massachusetts Avenue on Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

More information and complete details regarding 2024 Commencement can be found at https://www.umass.edu/commencement.

List of Scheduled Events 

Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17
 All Day 
Student Move-Out
Campus-wide 

Thursday, May 16
6:30 p.m. 
Commonwealth Honors College 
Mullins Center 

Friday, May 17
10 a.m.
Graduate Commencement Ceremony
McGuirk Alumni Stadium  

Saturday, May 18
10 a.m.
Undergraduate Commencement
McGuirk Alumni Stadium  

2 p.m.
Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration (BDIC)
Bromery Center for the Arts

2 p.m.   
Manning College of Information & Computer Sciences 
Recreation Center

2 p.m.
College of Education
Campus Center Auditorium

2 p.m.
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Mullins Center

3 p.m.
Stockbridge School of Agriculture Commencement
Bowker Auditorium, Stockbridge Hall

5 p.m.  
University Without Walls
Bromery Center for the Arts

6 p.m.  
College of Engineering
Mullins Center

Sunday, May 19
9 a.m.  
College of Natural Sciences
Mullins Center

9 a.m.  
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
Bromery Center for the Arts

10 a.m.
College of Humanities & Fine Arts
Recreation Center

1:30 p.m.  
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Mullins Center

5 p.m.  
Isenberg School of Management
Mullins Center