City Announces Honda Grand Prix Parking & Transportation Plans

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. (March 26, 2007) - With more than 25,000 parking spaces within a mile of the race track, city officials do not anticipate any major problems with parking and transportation for the upcoming Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 30 to April 1. There are several opportunities for parking and getting to the race:

PARK DOWNTOWN: City transportation officials encourage visitors to park downtown and enjoy the racing ambience in the downtown district. City parking garages will charge a $10 all-day event rate. Garages include South Core (enter from First Ave. S. between Second and First Streets) or the BayWalk Garage (enter from Second St. between Second and First Avenues N.)  Private lots, garages and on-street parking will also be available. Observe all posted parking regulations.

PARK & RIDE SHUTTLE AT TROPICANA FIELD: There will be a free shuttle from Tropicana Field parking lots to the race course. Parking at Tropicana Field will be $10. The shuttle will pick passengers up outside the main parking gate at 10th St. and Third Ave. S. and drop passengers at Fourth Ave. S. and Third St. There will be a two-block walk to the race entry gate. The shuttle will operate all three race days; Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

TAKE THE LOOPER: The Looper Downtown Trolley will offer free service throughout Grand Prix weekend. The Looper provides circulatory service between the city's parking facilities, hotels, restaurants and attractions. It operates from 10 a.m. to midnight (Friday and Saturday) and to 10 p.m. on Sunday, after the race. The closest Looper stop to the race course will be at Second St. and Fourth Ave. S.

ENTRY GATES: There will be three entry gates to the race course - all on First St. - at First Ave. S., Fourth Ave. S. and Fifth Ave. S. Wheelchair accessible gates are located at First Ave. S and Fifth Ave. S.

DISABLED PARKING: All permanent on-street disabled spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis at no charge.  An additional section of metered parking spaces on Central Avenue between First St. and Second St. will be temporarily reserved as free disabled parking spaces and available on a first-come, first-served basis Friday through Sunday.  City garages, USF garage and Tropicana Field provide disabled parking at the prevailing rate.  The Looper is wheelchair accessible and the Tropicana shuttle include some wheelchair accessible vehicles.

MOTORCYCLE PARKING: Special motorcycle parking will be available at one of the USF parking lots (enter from 2nd Street and 6th Avenue south).  Spaces are available on a first-come, first served basis for $10.

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION: Bicycle racks will be available outside each entry gate. There will be taxi stands established on Third St. S. between Third and Fourth Avenues S.

Throughout race weekend, Albert Whitted Airport will remain open. Limited access to the airport, USF St. Petersburg, the Coast Guard Station and Port of St. Petersburg will be available via Sixth Ave. S.  Limited access will be available to Demens Landing. The boat ramp will be closed.

Standard road closures for the race track are as follows: First Street from First Ave. S. to Sixth Ave. S.; Bayshore Drive and First Street from First Ave. S. to Fifth Ave. S.; Beach Drive from Central to First Ave. S.; First Street from Central to First Ave. S. (southbound closed only); First Ave. S. from First Street to Bayshore.  Race weekend only- there will be limited access on First St. S. at Fifth Ave. S. In addition, Second, Fourth and Fifth Avenues S. will be closed from First to Second Streets from Wednesday, March 28 through Sunday, April 1. The Grand Prix race track will be closed to traffic beginning Thursday, March 29 at noon.

Central Ave. from Second to Third Street will be closed on Friday, March 30 from noon until approximately midnight for a special “Fast Friday” Get Down Town block party. The Saturday Morning Market, which traditionally closes Central Ave., will not be held Grand Prix weekend.
 
To review a downtown parking and transportation map, additional Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg information or a list of other events in St. Petersburg throughout the weekend, visit www.stpete.org/grandprix.  
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ISSUED BY THE CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG
Marketing Department
727-893-7465 / marketing@stpete.org