CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
Thousands of baseball fans will be making their way to the Great American Ball Park on Thursday, April 5, 2012 to watch the Red's game on Opening Day.
To make this year's Opening Day more enjoyable for all, fans are encouraged to plan ahead and keep the following traffic tips in mind:
KNOW WHERE TO GO
It is recommended that fans coming to the game take advantage of the many convenient parking facilities located throughout the Riverfront and downtown areas and walk to the ball park.
Motorists are encouraged to use the following routes into downtown Cincinnati:
- From I-75 South – use the Freeman Avenue exit to Mehring Way to the Riverfront
- From I-75 North – use the Fifth Street exit in Cincinnati, then right onto Central Avenue to the Riverfront
- From I-71 South – use the Gilbert Avenue exit to Eggleston Avenue to the Riverfront.
- From I-471 – Use the Third Street exit to the Riverfront.
Findlay Market Parade
There will be several street closures near the Findlay Market and in the central business district to accommodate the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, including the parade route which is:
- Race Street between Fourth Street and Liberty Street
- Fifth Street between Elm Street and Sentinel Street
The roads around Findlay Market close at 10:00 AM; the roads along the parade route will close at 12:00 noon and will reopen following the parade. Game fans and downtown workers are encouraged to plan for these street closures, find their parking spots early, and use public transit where available.
"Due to the street closures that will be in place for the Opening Day parade, motorists should try to avoid traveling across downtown between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM," said Tim Jamison, Acting City Traffic Engineer for the City of Cincinnati. "As we have done on past Opening Days, Police Officers will be positioned along the parade route and around the riverfront area to assist with traffic."
Parking
Parking is available in the many lots north of Third Street, including the Fountain Square Garage and the Fountain Square South Garage below the Westin Hotel. Parking is also available along East Pete Rose Way, Eggleston Avenue and near Sawyer Point. Additional parking lots are located north and west of Paul Brown Stadium. Cash parking will be available in riverfront surface lots in the vicinity of Paul Brown Stadium and the Great American Ball Park on a limited first come, first served basis. However the Great American Ball Park Garage, the Central Riverfront Garage and the East Garage will be reserved for Reds season parking pass holders on Opening Day. The East Garage and the Central Riverfront Garage will have limited cash parking on a game by game basis for the rest of the season. Please note that construction sites in and around the riverfront are off limits for public parking. Sites will be clearly marked and secured, and anyone parking in these areas will be towed.
Parking for People with Disabilities
Access to the Great American Ball Park for people with disabilities is provided in two ways:
- The first is that a limited number of parking spaces for people with disabilities will be available at the East Garage, the Great American Ball Park Garage and the Central Riverfront Garage which is located directly underneath the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
- The second involves the use of a portion of Joe Nuxhall Way, which is reserved north of Mehring Way for dropping off and picking up people with disabilities who arrive in cars, vans and other vehicles with a capacity of 15 or less. Access to Joe Nuxhall Way during games will be from Mehring Way only.
Tour Groups
Tour groups who arrive by bus are strongly encouraged to use the Riverfront Transit Center for parking, loading and unloading of their patrons. All buses that use the Transit Center must also park in the Transit Center. These tour groups should call ahead to reserve a parking spot for their buses prior to the game date and may do so by calling (513) 632-7527. Once a reservation is made, the group will be sent specific directions as to which end of the transit center to enter for parking.
The Transit Center is best accessed from Southbound I-75 by using the Freeman Avenue exit and following Freeman Avenue to Mehring Way to Central Avenue to the Transit Center entrance just south of Third Street. From Northbound I-75 take the Ohio Fifth Street exit to south on Central Avenue. From Southbound I-71, buses should use the Gilbert Avenue Exit and follow signs directing them to the Riverfront via Eggleston Avenue and Pete Rose Way. The east entrance to the Transit Center is on Pete Rose Way just west of Broadway.
GET THERE EARLY
People from all over will be coming to enjoy the festivities, from the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade through the game's last inning. Fans getting downtown early will have a better chance of finding premium parking in Riverfront lots, securing good vantage points for the parade and avoiding delays from heavy traffic.
CALL AHEAD
Either before you leave or while on the road, take advantage of the 511 Traveler Information Hotline, a service of ARTIMIS, the Advanced Regional Traffic Interactive Management & Information System. Call the 511 number from any touch tone phone and follow the instructions to receive up-to-the minute traffic information and estimated travel times. Additional information is available at www.artimis.org.
USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
As an alternative to driving, fans are encouraged to use public transportation to obtain quick and convenient access to the Great American Ball Park. The Southbank Shuttle, operated by the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK), will transport fans from Northern Kentucky to Great American Ball Park. For more information about the Southbank Shuttle as well as the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, contact TANK at (859) 331-TANK or visit www.tankbus.org. Metro will be running a normal operating schedule but must alter the downtown stops due to the Findlay Market Parade. For more information, call MetroCenter at (513) 621-4455 or visit www.sorta.com.
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