Presidential Debate Will Impact Campus Lots and Streets

By Jessica Mize 832-842-9141


debate logoThe University of Houston will be in the national spotlight on Thursday, Feb. 25, when it serves as the host site of a Republican presidential primary debate.

Scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. in the Moores Opera House within the Moores School of Music, this large-scale event is set to attract thousands of visitors to campus, including debate attendees and members of the local and national media.

As the University prepares to welcome all of these guests, traffic and parking on campus will be impacted throughout the event, as well as during the days leading up to it.

Some of the larger, campuswide impacts include:

  • Parking lots 16B, 16C, 16D and 16G will be closed from 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, until 3 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Click here for a map of the closures. Alternate parking will be available at ERP.      
  • Any vehicles remaining in these lots after they are closed will be towed at the owner's expense. To locate towed vehicles, call UHDPS Dispatch at 713-743-3333.
  • Cullen Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic from Holman to Elgin beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. It is set to reopen at 3 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26.
  • The Campus Loop shuttle will stop running at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 and will not be available on Thursday, Feb. 25. It will resume its normal schedule on Friday, Feb. 26.
  • METRO routes that normally utilize the closed portion of Cullen Boulevard will be rerouted. For more details on bus detours, visit www.ridemetro.org/Pages/Detours.aspx.
  • Pedestrians near the arts corridor of campus should be on the lookout for sidewalk closures and detour signs on site.
  • All bikes in the arts corridor will need to be removed by Sunday, Feb. 21. No bikes will be allowed in the area between Monday, Feb. 22, and Friday, Feb. 26. Signage has already been placed at affected bike racks, trees and other objects in the area.
  • CNN correspondents will be doing pre- and post-debate coverage throughout the week from the Cullen Lawn, located in front of Cullen Performance Hall.

For more information about the event, visit the debate website.