High traffic volumes expected downtown for Fleet Week activities October 03-09, 2018

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists that heavy volumes of vehicular and pedestrian traffic are expected in and around the downtown area for the 2018 Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show.

Maryland Fleet Week will take place in Baltimore on Wednesday, October 3rd through Tuesday, October 09, 2018 with Air Shows occurring both Saturday and Sunday.   Fleet Week festivities will be held each day at the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Canton, Locust Point and Fort McHenry.  Large numbers of spectators are expected daily in the downtown area, as visitors come to tour the ships and enjoy a variety of special events.  The busiest days for Fleet Week traffic will be Saturday, October 6^th and Sunday, October 7^th when spectators come to view the Air Shows that occur from approximately 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. 

In preparation for the event, Fort Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Andre Street and Fort McHenry from 11:00 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2018 through 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7, 2018.  No vehicular traffic or bicycles will be allowed on Fort Avenue east of Andre Street without a hang tag or credentials during this time.  There will be little or no vehicular access to Fort Avenue during the closure, and parking is not permitted at Fort McHenry on these days.  Under Armor will be providing additional community parking for residents, and bicycles/scooters can be parked in the Latrobe Park lot off Andre Street.

The Charm City Circulator and MTA buses which are accessible from Light Street at the Inner Harbor, will transport riders to a drop off/turn-around point at Francis Scott Key Elementary School from 8:00am to 8:00pm on Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2018.  Citizens should note that these buses will not travel to Fort McHenry during these times and spectators will have to walk nearly 2/3 of a mile along Fort Avenue from this location to reach their destinations.  Mobility shuttles will be available at this location for people with disabilities who are not able to walk to the fort.

Neighborhood Check Points will be implemented at the following intersections for residents, guests, businesses and employees of the Locust Point community on Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2018 from 8:00am to 8:00pm:

• Fort Avenue & Lawrence Street
• Fort Avenue & Woodall Street
• Fort Avenue & Hull Street
• Key Highway & Hull Street

In addition to the closure of Fort Avenue, the following parking restrictions will be implemented:

• No parking along Andre Street from Fort Avenue to McComas Street from 8:00am on Friday, October 5^th to 8:00pm on Sunday, October 7^th
• No parking along the north side of Fort Avenue from Towson Street to Fort McHenry from 11:00am on Friday, October 5^th to 8:00pm on Sunday, October 7^th
• No parking along the south side of Fort Avenue from Hull Street to Fort McHenry from 8:00am on Friday, October 5^th to 8:00pm on Sunday, October 7^th
• No parking along Decatur Street from Fort Avenue south to the dead end from 8:00am on Friday, October 5^th to 8:00pm on Sunday, October 7^th

Citizens are strongly encouraged not to drive to the closure point at Andre Street because parking will be very limited in Locust Point the entire weekend.  Parking in local neighborhoods and Residential Parking Permit (RPP) areas should be avoided at all times.  Posted parking restrictions will be strictly enforced and vehicles parked in violation may be ticketed and towed.  Spectators looking to see the fleet in Locust Point or access Fort McHenry should park in downtown garages located north and east of the stadiums and either walk, bike or use mass transit to get to Locust Point. 

Citizens are strongly encouraged to use the MTA, Light Rail, Metro Subway or MARC Train to attend the festivities.  The Metro Subway is a great option for citizens traveling into and out of the city, as it will not be affected by Fleet Week activities.  The Water Taxi and Charm City Circulator are also great options for ‘getting around downtown’.  Citizens can find additional transit information by visiting mta.maryland.gov and charmcitycirculator.com.

In addition to Fleet Week activities, the Columbus Day Parade will also be held downtown on Sunday, October 07, 2018 starting at 1:00 p.m.  The parade will kick off from the stadium complex and proceed north on Howard Street, east on Pratt Street, and south on Exeter Street to the reviewing stand at St. Leo’s Church in Little Italy.  During the parade, road closures will be implemented in the downtown area for several hours, so citizens planning on attending downtown festivities on Sunday, October 07 should arrive early before the parade begins.

In preparation for the parade, the following streets will be closed to through traffic on Sunday, October 07, 2018:

• North & southbound Howard Street between Conway and Pratt Streets from approximately 12:45pm to 2:30pm
• Southbound Howard Street between Lombard and Pratt Streets from approximately 12:45pm until 2:30pm
• Pratt Street between Howard and Exeter Streets from approximately 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm
• Exeter Street between Pratt and Bank Streets from approximately 12:45pm to 3:30pm
• Stiles Street between High and Exeter Streets from approximately 12:45pm to 3:30pm
• High Street between Trinity and Stiles Streets from approximately 12:45pm to 3:30pm

Commuters should be advised that temporary traffic stops will  be implemented along the parade route for the safety of participants.  Roadways will be reopened to vehicular traffic once the parade passes.  Motorists traveling in this vicinity are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid congestion and delays. Throughout the weekend, Transportation Enforcement Officers along with the Baltimore City Police will be working to assist with the movement of traffic.  The Department of Transportation is excited for the festivities and will be working throughout these events to help keep Baltimore moving safely.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions To Be Implemented During Maryland Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore Festivities

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists of the commercial vehicle restrictions which will be implemented at the Inner Harbor and Locust Point during some Fleet Week and Air Show Baltimore festivities. 

Commercial vehicle restrictions will be implemented on the following streets during the dates and times listed below:

Inner Harbor:

- Lombard Street from President Street to Charles Street

- Pratt Street from Charles Street to President Street

- Key Highway from Light Street to Cross Street

- Both sides of Light Street from Lombard Street to Montgomery Street

Locust Point:

- Fort Avenue from Lawrence Street to Wallace Street

- Hull Street from the Key Highway Extension to Fort Avenue

The commercial vehicle restrictions will be in effect during the following times:

• Thursday, October 04, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 05, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 06, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 07, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 08, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

During these times, commercial vehicles, including tanker trailers, will not be permitted near the Inner Harbor and in some areas of Locust Point.  The commercial vehicle restriction excludes cabs, buses and other mass transportation vehicles.

Motorists are advised to pay close attention to the commercial vehicle restrictions and should use alternate routes during these times.  These restrictions will be strictly enforced in the downtown and Locust Point areas.

Department of Transportation Issues Contractor Stop Work Order During Fleet Week

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise all contractors that a temporary ‘Stop Work Order’ will be implemented in the downtown area of Baltimore City in preparation for Fleet Week activities. 

The ‘Stop Work Order’ restriction will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, October 03, 2018 through 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 09, 2018 which prohibits all contractors from working on public right-of-ways within the following geographical boundaries:

• North Avenue to the north
• McComas Street to the south
• Central Avenue to the east
• and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the west

This ‘Stop Work Order’ applies to anyone that needs to occupy any lanes of traffic on city roadways within the boundaries listed above, including curb lanes.  All maintenance of traffic (MOT) patterns should be removed by 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 03, 2018 and work zones properly secured.  Trenches should be plated and pinned, with all sides of the plates appropriately ramped with asphalt, before the ‘Stop Work Order’ begins.  

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation appreciates the cooperation of all contractors during this time.

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