Expecting another record turnout for The Players, tournament staff spent time Tuesday morning at the Jacksonville Traffic Management Center to learn how the Florida Department of Transportation keeps an eye on traffic levels and patterns.
Vehicle flow has been a major emphasis for this year's tournament, with Executive Director Matt Rapp identifying it as a large part of the fan experience. He and his staff are working with law enforcement and the public to help reduce traffic problems.
"It's likely that we will run out of parking space on Saturday, so it's better for people to plan ahead," said Rapp.
The Sawgrass property where The Players is held has about 18,000 parking spaces. The tournament averaged about 15,000 vehicles a day last year and organizers expect to eclipse that mark Saturday and, possibly, Sunday.
Tournament staff is working with the Florida Department of Transportation, St. Johns County, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol to develop streamlined traffic patterns and improved traffic light management.
This group includes operators at the traffic management center on Edison Road near Downtown.
Operators monitor information such as speed, volume and occupancy of vehicles with the help of 275 microwave-loop detectors on light poles throughout the region.
The center was completed in May 2002 and comprises 2,000 square feet of the building.
It is staffed with operations employees and a project manager who work at the center 6 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays.
A satellite center is at the Florida Highway Patrol Troop G Jacksonville Regional Communication Center. The facility is at the Florida Department of Management Services complex at Jefferson and State streets.
The 24/7 operation handles District 2 and District 3 information dissemination on dynamic message signs in Jacksonville and 511 throughout North Florida.
The center provides information that allows law enforcement to know when traffic flowisslowing and when it needs to be rerouted, said Ryan Crist, traffic management center manager.
One way attendees can reduce traffic flow is to carpool. This year, the tournament is not just talking about carpooling — it is paying for it.
Attendees can visit the tournament's website, pgatour.com/tournaments/the-players-championship.html, to participate in the "Four for Free" carpool voucher for free parking.
For those who live closer to the course or have friends who live close to the course, Rapp suggests riding a bicycle.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is offering a bike valet at the "Couples" gate on ATP Boulevard and the "Love III" gate inside the Sawgrass gates.
"The number of people biking in has grown each year since we started in 2011. We had about 2,000 people bike to the event last year," said Rapp.
The Players also is working to improve the process for fans to access taxi service. Staff has designated Ace Transportation Group, of Jacksonville Beach, as the preferred taxi service and taxi stands are outside of the Couples and Love III gates.
In addition, attendees staying Downtown can use a shuttle service. The City will provide shuttles from Downtown-area hotels to TPC Sawgrass beginning today through Sunday.
Shuttles will leave hotels at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. and will return each day leaving TPC Sawgrass at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.
The drop-off and pickup location will be at "Shuttle Row" at the Love III gate.
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