Parking and Traffic Advisory

Fairfax Campus Notice

Campus Notice: Parking and transportation guidance for the fall semester

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:59:15 +0000

Campus Notice: Parking and transportation guidance for the fall semester Lauren Reuscher Thu, 08/22/2024 - 12:59

As the fall 2024 semester starts, George Mason students, faculty, and staff are reminded that traffic on and around the Fairfax Campus greatly increases during the first few weeks of the semester. The following campus parking and transportation guide will help minimize potential parking and traffic delays.

During the first few weeks of the semester, we suggest allowing an extra 30 minutes to arrive on campus. Though some parking spaces are more convenient to your destination than others, the Fairfax Campus has more than enough spaces to accommodate all vehicles. However, many general parking permit areas fill at peak class times. Lots L and K are usually the last to fill and the best places to look if arriving to campus after 10 a.m. with a general permit.

Parking Permit and Visitor Parking
A valid parking permit (virtual or hangtag) is required to park outside visitor areas. Those without permits should use visitor parking in the garages or in various lots with daily parking options. Virtual parking permits are sold online only at parking.gmu.edu. Permits are sold with daily, weekly, monthly, and semester options.

Traffic Supervision
At times during the morning, late afternoon, and early evenings, campus police cadets will direct traffic around campus. Please be alert and follow the cadets’ directions.

Share the Road
Please be mindful of sharing the road safely with an increased number of pedestrians and vehicles, including scooters, motorcycles, bikes, cars and trucks. Get more tips on safely sharing the road on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Please never park or leave a scooter or bike on any sidewalk or blocking any pathway.

Event Parking Impacts
Campus Drive between Global Lane and Patriot Circle will be closed on Thursday, Aug. 29, from 6–11 p.m. for the IVth Night event at the RAC Field. Follow detour signs.

Shuttle Service
Check the Mason Shuttles webpage for fall semester schedules. Early in the semester, allow extra time to catch your shuttle, as buses may be full at peak times.

Mason IDs are required; no guest riders are permitted until further notice.
Every bus is outfitted with a bike rack, ADA accommodations, and Wi-Fi.
Shuttle Tracker: Get real-time arrival info for Mason Shuttles and local public transportation. Download the RideSystems app from Google Play or the App Store.

Sandy Creek–Vienna Metro Shuttle—Runs between Fairfax Campus and Vienna Metro Station with buses every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday–Friday, increasing to every 20 minutes from 4–11 p.m., and limited service on weekends from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Fairfax–Science and Technology Campus Shuttle—Connects Fairfax Campus with the SciTech Campus, operating Monday–Thursday from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., with departures every 30–40 minutes and Fridays with departures every 70 minutes. Weekend service is every two hours between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Gunston Go-Bus—Provides service between various locations including the RAC, Sandy Creek Transit Center, and Fair Oaks Mall, among others.

Fairfax/Mason Square (Arlington) Shuttle—Operates between Sandy Creek Transit Center and Van Metre/Hazel Hall, with hourly service Monday–Thursday from 7:15 a.m. to 11:05 p.m. and limited Friday service; no weekend service.

West Campus Shuttle—Runs between West Campus Parking Lot and Presidents Park, with service every 20 minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday–Friday, and every 40 minutes thereafter. No weekend service; use the On-Demand Shuttle instead.

On-Demand Shuttles (weekends only)—Offers shared-ride service with designated pick-up and drop-off points focused around the Fairfax Campus; does not serve Mason Square or the SciTech Campus.

Fairfax City CUE Bus—Students and employees can ride any of the four Fairfax City CUE routes to and from the Rappahannock River Lane stop. The CUE bus travels throughout Fairfax City and to the Vienna Metro stop for free.

If you have any questions, reach out to shuttle@gmu.edu or by phone at 703-993-2828. Follow @MasonShuttles on X.

Virtual Permits
Your license plate will serve as your parking permit. No more hangtags. It is important that your vehicle is associated with your permit, not just your parking account. Read step-by-step instructions on how to assign your license plate to your permit here.

To remove vehicles that you no longer use, own, or possess, complete the Vehicle Deactivation Request form to remove the vehicles from your parking portal.

Short-Term Parking
Students, faculty, and staff who do not require parking on campus regularly may want to consider daily, weekly, and monthly options:

Parking garage visitor parking: $5-19 daily
Lots L/K: $11.50/day
Lot P (Field House): $8.50/day
West Campus Lot/Rapidan River Road: $5.50/day
General Lot Evening (valid after 4 p.m.): $8.50/day
SciTech Campus Daily: $8.50/day
Lots L/K Weekly: $35
Lots L/K Monthly: $85

Daily permits are available online at parking.gmu.edu. You can purchase them in advance on the parking portal or via ParkMobile when you arrive. Pay stations are available near the exits of parking garages and decks and in Lot P only. They accept Mason Money, MasterCard, Visa, prepaid validations, and cash.

Science and Technology (SciTech) Campus Parking

Fairfax–SciTech General, Lot I, Lot J, Lot R, and reserved parking deck permits are valid in the Occoquan, King, Discovery, Hylton, and Tower parking lots at the SciTech Campus. Please follow signage in these lots, as parking spaces may be designated for various uses or permits.
The Shops parking lot in front of Beacon Hall has faculty/staff, event permit, and 30-minute parking on the northwest side. The southeast side of the lot (left side facing the building) is for retail parking only.
At the SciTech Campus, daily parking permits are available online for $8.50/day, or via ParkMobile at $2 for the first hour and an additional $1 per hour, to the $8.50 daily maximum.

Mason Square Parking (Arlington)
You must work or be attending class at Mason Square to be eligible to purchase a Mason Square parking permit. Access cards are needed for both the Van Metre and Vernon Smith garages. Hourly visitor parking is only available in the Van Metre Garage. For more information, go to the Mason Square parking webpage.

Please use caution when approaching both garages with the ongoing construction of the new Fuse building.

Fairfax–SciTech Campus permits are not valid at Mason Square without authorization from Parking Services.
In Vernon Smith Garage, Mason Square general permit faculty/staff and student parking is available on levels B3–P1 and on level B4 after 6 p.m.
- There is no guarantee of space in the general permit parking area.
- Please pay careful attention to signage, as some spaces are designated for retail use only.

Alternative Transportation Options

Bicycling
As a recognized bicycle-friendly university, George Mason has more than 1,400 bicycle parking spaces around the Fairfax Campus, as well as plenty of bike racks at the regional campuses. Go to bike.gmu.edu for more information.

Covered bike parking is available under shelters around campus and on Levels 1 and 2 of Rappahannock River Deck.
George Mason’s bicycle registration program offers registrants free bike locks and bike lights.
The Patriot Bikes check-out program is available at the RAC and the Aquatic and Fitness Center.
There is a dismount zone between the East Building and Enterprise Hall. Golf carts are not permitted in the dismount zone, and those using bikes, scooters, skateboards, or skates must dismount and walk. This is for everyone’s safety.

Carpooling Options
Students and employees may qualify for a 20–40% rebate on their reserved parking permits by carpooling. Go to the carpool/vanpool page for more information.

The Carpool Zones provide designated locations for share riders to drop off between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., Monday–Friday. To park in a carpool zone, you must have at least two people in the car, including the driver, and a general student or faculty/staff parking permit.

Lot A Carpool Zone: Accessed off of Mattaponi River Lane
Rappahannock River Deck Carpool Zone: The first level of the Rappahannock River Deck General permit area

MasonCommutes: Find carpool partners or a bike or transit buddy within the Mason community. Propose a trip or request rides on Mason Commutes, the go-to place for Mason ridesharing.

Sign up with your Mason Net ID and password on MasonCommutes.
Carpooling can be a great way to save money and to reduce Mason’s carbon footprint.

Electric Scooter Parking
Electric personal scooters and shared mobility scooters do not require a permit. They must be parked at a designated scooter corral parking area located around campus or at or adjacent to a bike rack. Get more information.

Please remember that electric bikes, scooters, and other electric personal transportation devices cannot be brought indoors at George Mason.

Zipcar
Zipcars on the first level of the Rappahannock Deck and in Lot R and are available for rental by the hour. Get more information and sign up for George Mason discounts for Zipcar.

Contact Us

Website: Transportation website | Office Hours and Locations

Email:
Parking: transpo@gmu.edu or parking@gmu.edu
Shuttle: shuttle@gmu.edu

Follow Mason Parking and Transportation on Facebook, X (@MasonParking and @MasonShuttles), and Instagram.

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Faculty and Staff News

Around Mason (E-Files)

Fairfax Campus Notice: Section of Patriot Circle Closed July 22–28

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 13:59:15 +0000

Fairfax Campus Notice: Section of Patriot Circle Closed July 22–28 Lauren Reuscher Thu, 07/18/2024 - 09:59

A section of Patriot Circle between Campus Drive and Aquia Creek Lane will be closed from Monday, July 22, through Sunday, July 28, so a culvert can be installed to address flooding issues along that part of the road and in Lot I. The sidewalk along this section of Patriot Circle will also be closed.

Those entering campus from Campus Drive will be forced to turn right onto Patriot Circle toward Mason Pond Drive. Those entering campus from University Drive and Aquia Creek Lane will be forced to turn left onto Patriot Circle toward George Mason Boulevard, or to go straight on Aquia Creek Lane toward Mason Pond Deck.

As a reminder, Lot I is still closed for repairs through August 12.

View the Fairfax Campus map for location details. Please pay attention to signage and use caution. For questions about this project, contact parking@gmu.edu. For questions related to accessibility, contact the ADA Office at ada@gmu.edu.

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Fairfax Campus Notice

Faculty and Staff News

Fairfax Campus Notice: High School Graduations at EagleBank Arena

Lauren Reuscher — Fri, 03 May 2024 19:00:42 +0000

Fairfax Campus Notice: High School Graduations at EagleBank Arena Lauren Reuscher Fri, 05/03/2024 - 15:00

Heavy traffic is expected on and around ��AV’s Fairfax Campus for regional high school graduation ceremonies at EagleBank Arena from May 29 through June 18, 2024.

EagleBank Arena will host up to three ceremonies on many days, so traffic will be entering and exiting campus from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. Please allow extra travel time on and around campus.

George Mason faculty, staff, and students are advised to use the general permit area of the Rappahannock Parking Deck or the Field House parking lots to avoid delays. Shenandoah Parking Deck (levels 4 and 5) will be open for limited overflow student, employee, and event parking on weekdays when graduations occur.

Wednesday, May 29

9:30 a.m. Osbourn High School
2 p.m. Battlefield High School
7 p.m. Gainesville High School

Thursday, May 30

9:30 a.m. Woodbridge High School
2 p.m. Forest Park High School

Friday, May 31

9:30 a.m. Hylton High School
2 p.m. Potomac High School
7 p.m. Osbourn Park High School

Saturday, June 1

9 a.m. Alexandria High School
2 p.m. Gar-Field High School
7 p.m. Freedom (PW) High School

Monday, June 3

9:30 a.m. Annandale High School Graduation
2 p.m. Robinson Secondary School
7:30 p.m. Lewis High School

Tuesday, June 4

9:30 a.m. Mount Vernon High School
2 p.m. Lake Braddock Secondary School
7:30 p.m. Westfield High School

Wednesday, June 5

9:30 a.m. Centreville High School
2 p.m. Herndon High School
7:30 p.m. Edison High School

Thursday, June 6

9:30 a.m. West Springfield Secondary School
2 p.m. Woodson High School
7:30 p.m. Justice High School

Friday, June 7

9:30 a.m. Chantilly High School
2 p.m. Falls Church High School
7:30 p.m. South Lakes High School

Saturday, June 8

7:30 p.m. Thomas Jefferson High School

Monday, June 10

9:30 a.m. Hayfield High School
2 p.m. South County High School

Tuesday, June 11

9:30 a.m. Oakton High School
2 p.m. West Potomac High School

Saturday, June 15

10 a.m. Broad Run High School
2 p.m. Briar Woods High School
7 p.m. Freedom (LC) High School

Tuesday, June 18

10 a.m. John Champe High School
2 p.m. Potomac Falls High School
7 p.m. Park View High School

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Fairfax Campus Notice

EagleBank Arena

Faculty and Staff News

Parking and Traffic Advisory: Commencement and Degree Celebrations

Lauren Reuscher — Tue, 16 May 2023 15:29:34 +0000

Parking and Traffic Advisory: Commencement and Degree Celebrations Lauren Reuscher Tue, 05/16/2023 - 11:29

University Commencement: Thursday, May 18

��AV Commencement will take place on Thursday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at EagleBank Arena. Expect heavy traffic on and around the Fairfax Campus, particularly on Braddock Road. Commencement parking will be available in Lots A, C, and K, with overflow parking in Shenandoah and Mason Pond parking decks.

Disabled parking will be available in Lot A, outside the south entrance to EagleBank Arena. Drivers should use the Roanoke River Road and Nottoway River Lane entrances to campus from Braddock Road to access disabled parking.

Patriot Circle will be closed between Roanoke River Road and Mattaponi River Lane. Mason Pond Drive will be closed from 9—10 a.m. Mattaponi River Lane will be closed near the arena until 11 a.m. Drivers should follow signage and traffic controls.

View the Fairfax Campus map for location details.

Degree Celebrations: Thursday, May 18, to Saturday, May 20

Following Commencement, Degree Celebrations will be hosted at EagleBank Arena and the Center for the Arts/Concert Hall from Thursday, May 18, through Saturday, May 20. Heavy traffic is expected on campus between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day. View the complete schedule of Degree Celebrations.

Parking for Degree Celebrations at EagleBank Arena will be available in Lots A, C, L, J, and K, and Shenandoah Parking Deck. Parking for Degree Celebrations at the Center for the Arts/Concert Hall will be available in Lots J and K and Mason Pond Parking Deck.

Looking for alternate transportation options? Mason Shuttles are available, and no Mason ID is required to ride May 18–20. For schedules, go to shuttle.gmu.edu. The City of Fairfax CUE bus is also free to ride from the Vienna Metro station.

Congratulations to all of Mason’s Spring 2023 graduates!

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Commencement

Graduation

Parking and Traffic Alert for Fairfax Campus: Oct. 13–15

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 17:09:10 +0000

Parking and Traffic Alert for Fairfax Campus: Oct. 13–15 Lauren Reuscher Wed, 10/12/2022 - 13:09

On Thursday, October 13, a concert at EagleBank Arena will lead to increased traffic on and around campus and affect on-campus parking. About 6,000 attendees are expected. Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert.

During arena events, drivers should allow additional travel time to and from campus and avoid the southern end of campus near EagleBank Arena and Braddock Road.

To avoid arena parking and traffic impacts, consider parking in Rappahannock Deck on the north end of campus and utilize University Drive and Roberts Road to access and leave campus.

Please also consider using Campus Drive if that option is available to you. Extra time should be allowed if using Mason Shuttles.

Shenandoah Deck Levels 4 and 5 will be open to both overflow general permit and event parking beginning at 4 p.m. Vehicles should enter the garage at the Level 3 permit entrance. Anyone parking in the Level 1 gated visitor area will be required to pay the posted parking fee to exit.

The concert is scheduled to end at 10:30 p.m. All overflow event and permit parking in the Shenandoah Deck should exit by 11 p.m.

On Friday, October 14, Mason Madness, the kick-off to the basketball season, will be held at EagleBank Arena, with the season’s first tailgate in Lot L. The lot will close at 11 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, after the arena concert. For details go to si.gmu.edu/tailgating.
Lot L will remain closed for the Family Weekend Festival on Saturday, October 15. The lot will re-open on Sunday, October 16. For information, go to masonfamily.gmu.edu/familyweekend.

For more information about events at EagleBank Arena, go to eaglebankarena.com.

For parking and traffic updates, follow @MasonParking on Twitter. For questions, contact parking@gmu.edu.

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Parking and Traffic Advisory: Transportation Updates for the Fall Semester

Lauren Reuscher — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:40:35 +0000

Parking and Traffic Advisory: Transportation Updates for the Fall Semester Lauren Reuscher Fri, 08/19/2022 - 11:40

As the fall 2022 semester approaches, Mason students, faculty, and staff are reminded that traffic on and around the Fairfax Campus greatly increases during the first few weeks of the semester. The following campus parking and transportation guide will help minimize potential parking and traffic delays.

A valid parking permit is required to park outside of visitor areas. Semester and short-term permits may be purchased online at parking.gmu.edu. Information about permit sales is posted on the Parking and Transportation website.

During the first few weeks of the semester, we suggest allowing an extra 30-45 minutes to arrive on campus. The Fairfax Campus has more than enough spaces to accommodate all vehicles. However, many General parking permit areas fill at peak class times.

A new ridesharing program called Mason Commutes is now available to help the Mason community find and share rides and to find carpool partners.

At times during the morning, late afternoon, and early evenings, campus police cadets will direct traffic around campus. Please be alert and follow the cadets’ directions.

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Parking and Traffic Alert: Housing Move-In, Aug. 17–21

Lauren Reuscher — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:14:34 +0000

Parking and Traffic Alert: Housing Move-In, Aug. 17–21 Lauren Reuscher Mon, 08/15/2022 - 11:14

Several parking and traffic closures will occur on the Fairfax Campus from Aug. 17–21 to accommodate the move-in of nearly 6,000 residential students.

Traffic impacts will occur around campus, particularly near Braddock Road, Roanoke River Road, Lots J and K, and Rappahannock Deck. Continue reading for more details.

A successful move-in process is a university priority. Key units across the university work together to make the experience as efficient as possible. Your patience and cooperation are appreciated. Refer to the Fairfax Campus map for parking lot and road locations.

Thank you for your cooperation as we welcome our resident students to campus for the new academic year—especially our freshmen and their families, who are now part of the Mason family.

Parking Closures and Impacts

Lots J and K will be used by students and families checking in for move-in at the Ángel Cabrera Global Center and for post move-in parking.
Rappahannock Deck: General permit area on Levels 1–3 (including faculty/staff general area on Level 3) will be closed to all but move-in traffic from Wednesday, Aug. 17, through Sunday, Aug. 21, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Reserved permit holders may park on reserved Levels 3–5. General faculty/staff permit holders may park on the roof ONLY from Wednesday, Aug. 17 through Sunday, Aug. 21. Student General permit holders should use other General parking areas such as Lots A, C, L, and K.
- The reserved levels will only be accessible via the University Drive entrance on Level 2. The Patriot Circle permit entrance and exit will be closed Aug. 17–21. The reserved level gates will be open to accommodate families and students moving into the residence halls.
Lot I: Closed to all but move-in traffic from Friday, Aug. 19, at 11 p.m. to Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.
Lot R: Closed to all but move-in traffic from Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 11 p.m. until Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.
Short-Term Lots: Washington Lot near Presidents Park (off Shenandoah River Lane) will be closed from Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 11 p.m. to Thursday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. The short-term parking lot by Eastern Shore will only be available to move-in traffic with disabled permits from Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 6 a.m. until Sunday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m.
Merten Lot will be used for oversized vehicles for move-in that cannot fit inside Rappahannock Deck.

Traffic Closures and Impacts

As all resident students must check in at the Ángel Cabrera Global Center, expect heavy traffic on Braddock Road, Roanoke River Road, and on Patriot Circle around Lots J and K.
Expect heavy traffic approaching the housing move-in areas around Rappahannock Deck and Presidents Park.
Patriot Circle (in front of the Rappahannock Deck) will be closed to all traffic from Wednesday, Aug. 17, until Sunday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Access to the visitor section of the deck will be available via Rappahannock River Lane and Patriot Circle.
University Drive: Expect heavy traffic between George Mason Blvd and Rappahannock Deck.
Chesapeake River Lane will be closed to all traffic except commercial deliveries and disabled parking from Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 6 a.m. until Sunday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m.
Rivanna River Lane will be closed to all but service and delivery vehicles and disabled parking from Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 6 a.m. until Sunday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m.

For questions about parking and traffic during housing move-in, contact parking@gmu.edu. Follow @MasonParking and @MasonHousing on Twitter for updates.

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Hylton Parking Lot Closure at SciTech Campus

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 18:42:22 +0000

Hylton Parking Lot Closure at SciTech Campus Lauren Reuscher Wed, 07/13/2022 - 14:42

The Hylton Parking Lot will be closed starting Sunday, July 17, to accommodate construction activity on campus. The entire lot will be closed for the next six weeks while crews complete the following activities:

Install a new permanent entrance to the parking lot adjacent to the Hylton Center
Install fencing around the perimeter of the construction site
Prepare for construction of the Life Sciences and Engineering Building (LSEB)

Disabled parking is available in both the Discovery and Tower lots. The new entrance into the rear of the Hylton Lot should open on or around September 1. However, parking will only be permitted in the last row of parking spaces during construction of the LSEB (approximately 20–24 months).

Occupants of the Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research (IABR) should park in the Discovery Lot until the opening of the new entrance into the back of the Hylton Lot. Hylton Center occupants should park in the Tower Lot during this period.

The shuttle stop in the circle at the Hylton Center will continue to operate normally.

View the SciTech Campus map for details. Contact Colby Grant, SciTech Operations, with questions.

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Parking Lot Paving and Maintenance on Fairfax Campus: July 2022

Lauren Reuscher — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 14:01:07 +0000

Parking Lot Paving and Maintenance on Fairfax Campus: July 2022 Lauren Reuscher Fri, 07/08/2022 - 10:01

Parking lots around ��AV's Fairfax Campus will undergo paving and repairs from July 11–30. The following schedule is subject to change, based on weather and conditions:

July 11: Fenwick Library Loading Dock and Tallwood (on Roberts Road) will be closed.
July 12: Buchanan Hall Lot and RAC Parking Lot will be closed. Disabled parking in front of the RAC will be closed, but patrons may use the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Alternate disabled parking will be located on Mason Pond Drive.
July 13–14: Finley Lot and Thompson Hall Loading Dock will be closed.
July 15: Peterson Hall Lot and Rogers Lot (in front of Subway) will be closed.
July 18–26: West Campus Lot will be closed.
July 22: Police and Safety Headquarters Lot will be closed.
July 27–30: Lot L will be closed.

View the Fairfax Campus parking map for locations. Information will be updated on the Mason Transportation website and @MasonParking on Twitter.

Contact parking@gmu.edu with questions. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as repairs are made to support the campus.

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