"Get To The Grid" Moves to Momentum Plaza

From WTAW

By Bill Oliver

Published: April 15, 2015

Wednesday afternoon update:

Texas A&M officials say they have created enough parking to offset the loss of using the mall for its shuttle bus service.

The mall ended the arrangement because 2,000 to 2,500 spaces were being used in the lot that accommodates 3.500 to 4,000 vehicles.

The new location, Momentum Plaza at University and Copperfield, has more than 1,000 spaces. A&M Interim Vice President of Marketing and Communications Shane Hinckley says they are expanding parking on campus to make up the difference.

Hinckley also says there will be just one location for “Get to the Grid”. Some members of the Bryan city council had asked A&M to consider a stop at the downtown parking garage.

Quoting Hinckley, “We are always exploring options to improve and enhance the parking on gameday which includes ongoing discussions with community and civic leaders. There may be more parking options in the future but the only Get to the Grid location will be Momentum Plaza.”

College Station Mayor Nancy Berry, on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs, says most of the riders are not from out of town because they have season tickets that includes parking.

Listen to Nancy Berry visiting with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia

Tuesday afternoon update, courtesy of Texas A&M University:

The Texas A&M University “Get to the Grid” park and ride program for home football games has found a new home. Beginning in the fall of 2015, the new location for “Get to the Grid” will be at Momentum Plaza, home to American Momentum Bank and the Adam Corporation in College Station.

Texas A&M University has been working with the cities of College Station and Bryan and other public and private entities to find possible locations for the “Get to the Grid” program, which was discontinued by Post Oak Mall management at the conclusion of last year’s football season. Recent developments led Don Adam, a local businessman and strong supporter of Texas A&M University, to offer help to the program.
John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, praised Mr. Adam for his community spirit and his generosity. “Once again, Don Adam has proven his commitment to Texas A&M and to the Bryan-College Station community,” Sharp said. “American Momentum Bank will be a perfect location for this program and we greatly appreciate Don Adam and the Adam Corporation for making it available.”

“We always have a strong interest in assisting our community and Texas A&M University, and are happy to continue this tradition by offering a solution to this community problem. We feel that our location provides a perfect solution, in that it is within the same geographical area of the prior service, easily accessible from the major thoroughfares, and provides the safety of a lighted 55 acre location with over 1,000 parking spots,” said Don Adam, CEO of American Momentum Bank.

“I am grateful for the support provided by Don Adam and American Momentum Bank that allowed the ‘Get to the Grid’ program to find a location that meets the needs of the public and Texas A&M University,” said Texas A&M University Interim President Mark A Hussey. “There are not that many options that meet all the needs of a safe and successful park and ride program but Mr. Adam was able to provide one that addressed the concerns of our community. I also want to thank the College Station City Council and Mayor Nancy Berry who has engaged with us to try and help us find a new home for a program that positively impacts the entire BCS community.”

“The College Station City Council is extremely pleased to learn of the ’Get to the Grid’ agreement achieved between American Momentum Bank and Texas A&M University,” said, Mayor Nancy Berry. “The safety of our residents and visitors is always paramount for us, which is why the city was firmly committed to joining the effort to identify potential solutions to one of the largest single-day mobility challenges imaginable.”

“Get to the Grid” is Texas A&M University’s free gameday shuttle service that started in 2003. The service provides a free parking option and helps reduce the impact of traffic in the city and around the university. The service helps people from both in and out of town beat the congestion that happens pre and post-game closer to campus. The service drops off in the heart of the gameday excitement on campus adjacent to the Quad and runs from 3 1/2 hours before the game and until 1 1/2 hours after the game. The Momentum Plaza location provides easy access to Highway 6 and Highway 30, with access from both FM60 and Harvey Road and a landmark building that will help fans know they have found the new home of “Get To The Grid” for the 2015 football season. Be sure to download the Destination Aggieland app for all the latest gameday and Grid information.

Original story:

Veterans Park will not be used shuttle Aggie football fans to and from Kyle Field.

That’s the word from Texas A&M provost Karan Watson, who made that announcement at Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting.

Dr. Watson said locations for the “Get To The Grid” shuttle should be worked out between A&M and the city of College Station before the end of the week.

When asked to confirm, city of College Station officials say they were not aware of Dr. Watson’s comments.