With high school graduation ceremonies starting next week, the VCU Police Department expects an increase in traffic near Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park Campus. High schools from Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and New Kent counties, St. Gertrude and ECPI will host ceremonies at the Stuart C. Siegel Center between June 2 and June 13.

Graduating students, and their guests, are advised to arrive early at the Siegel Center and give themselves adequate time to park. Attendance for the ceremonies may range from 2,500 to more than 6,000. VCU Police, VCU Parking and Transportation, the City of Richmond Transportation Engineering Division and the Richmond Police Department have established a collaborative, regional traffic plan and have added staffing to keep traffic moving before and after each ceremony.

Law enforcement officers will be directing traffic around the Siegel Center at each graduation.

“Arriving early and planning some extra time for parking is advised,” said VCU Police Capt. Sean Ingram. “Taking an alternate route around the Siegel Center is encouraged if drivers are not headed to a graduation ceremony. Our goal is to maintain timely and safe travel for our local high school graduates and their guests.”

Doors at the Siegel Center will open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony. Attendees can park in the West Broad Street Parking Deck at 1111 W. Broad St. and at the Bowe Street Parking Deck at 601 Bowe St. The Siegel Center is located at 1200 W. Broad St.





2015 SIEGEL CENTER GRADUATION SCHEDULE



Tuesday, June 2

3 p.m., St. Gertrude





Thursday, June 4

10 a.m., Cosby (Chesterfield)

2:30 p.m., James River (Chesterfield)

7 p.m., Midlothian (Chesterfield)



Friday, June 5

10 a.m., Manchester (Chesterfield)

2:30 p.m., Matoaca (Chesterfield)

7 p.m., Thomas Dale (Chesterfield)



Saturday, June 6

10 a.m., Clover Hill (Chesterfield)

2 p.m., Monacan (Chesterfield)





Monday, June 8

10 a.m., Meadowbrook (Chesterfield)

2:30 p.m., L.C. Bird (Chesterfield)

7 p.m., Community (Chesterfield)





Tuesday, June 9

11 a.m., Highland Springs (Henrico)

3 p.m., Glen Allen (Henrico)

7 p.m., Henrico (Henrico)



Wednesday, June 10

11 a.m., J.R. Tucker (Henrico)

3 p.m., Deep Run (Henrico)

7 p.m., Hermitage (Henrico)





Thursday, June 11

11 a.m., Varina (Henrico)

3 p.m., Mills Godwin (Henrico)

7 p.m., Douglas Freeman (Henrico)



Friday, June 12

1 p.m., ECPI

7 p.m., New Kent





Saturday, June 13

8:30 a.m., Patrick Henry (Hanover)

Noon, Atlee (Hanover)

3:30 p.m., Lee Davis (Hanover)

7 p.m., Hanover (Hanover)