49ers Working With Transit Officials To Improve Post-Game Traffic Outside Levi's Stadium
SANTA CLARA (KCBS)— San Francisco's 49ers are putting their heads together with transit officials in hopes of improving the horrible post-game traffic some fans were forced to endure last Sunday.
Lifelong 49ers fan Bruce Simon said the only thing worse than losing to the Chicago Bears was the traffic he had to endure outside Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium after the home opener. It was like adding insult to injury.
It took his family two hours just to leave the stadium's parking lot.
"Cars were going every which way trying to get out. It felt like you were trapped there," he said.
The issue may have been that the parking lot exits crossed paths with pedestrians and light rail trains, leaving only small windows for cars to leave.
49ers spokesperson Bob Lang said it's something they will be looking at, but he adds there are no easy fixes.
"When 70,000 people leave the stadium at the same time, there will be traffic. I think everybody understands that. I think our job right now is to try to mitigate and improve and optimize the flow of traffic the best we can,"
Meanwhile, Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Spokesperson Colleen Valles said they are hoping to give buses priority access on roadways.
"Our buses get stuck in the traffic a little bit too so it behooves us to get this all worked out," Valles said.
Santa Clara police said they arrested 31 people during Sunday's game; about the same number as was typical at Candlestick Park.
