Not sure if you got this directly or not Bob - please forward if not ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Doven, Joanna <Joanna.Doven@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> Date: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 12:58 PM Subject: [HPCC Editor] G-20 TRANSPORTATION SAFETY RELEASE To: "Doven, Joanna" <Joanna.Doven@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> Cc: "Doven, Joanna" <Joanna.Doven@city.pittsburgh.pa.us> ------------------------------ [image: G20 Partners] *PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS RELEASE G-20 TRANSPORTATION SAFETY PLAN* Downtown’s Central Business District to be closed to most vehicular traffic during summit, exceptions made to accommodate residents, businesses,visitors (PITTSBURGH) September 15, 2009 City, county, and state transportation and law enforcement officials today released Pittsburgh’s comprehensive G-20 Transportation Safety Plan. The officials announced that Downtown’s Central Business District (CBD) will be closed to most vehicular traffic during the G-20 Summit in order to keep traffic flowing throughout the City and region and to ensure that residents, employees, businesses, and visitors are kept safe. Since the international summit was declared a National Special Security Event, several subcommittees with representatives from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies have been meeting regularly to plan for a safe event. As part of this structure, a traffic subcommittee consisting of PennDOT traffic planners and engineers, Port Authority transit experts, and members of law enforcement has worked together to develop this comprehensive plan. The Plan was designed to balance the following objectives: support public safety personnel’s ability to respond to any needs within the City; support the needs of CBD businesses, residents, and hotel visitors; secure highways and traffic-ways to provide secure travel for motorcades; ensure the flow of the interstate highway system; provide traffic control at the perimeter of the CBD to support vehicle flow around the closure; and assist with the flow of the interstate highway system. “The amount of advance planning, foresight, and hard work that has gone into this plan is remarkable,” said Pittsburgh’s Director of Public Safety Michael Huss. “Our number one priority is to make sure that this City stays safe next week, and this traffic restriction is critical to that. We’re not closing Downtown to vehicles, we’re closing Downtown to traffic that would potentially limit our public safety abilities and cause more inconveniences to commuters and guests than is necessary.” Despite the traffic restrictions, several exceptions have been made in order to accommodate Downtown residents, employees, businesses, and visitors: Port Authority buses and T light rail cars will still provide service, but follow detoured routes away from the Secret Service security zone; Downtown residents may drive their vehicles in and out; businesses may receive commercial deliveries at certain times; and taxi-cabs and hotel shuttles will be accommodated. Other vehicles given access within the traffic perimeter include: ACCESS, medical deliveries, UPS, Fed Ex, and USPS, among others. Pedestrians and cyclists may go about their daily business Downtown with little disruption unless they are traveling within the United States Secret Service’s security perimeter. Permitted vehicles must enter the CBD at one of three designated locations, but may exit at any point Downtown: Smithfield Street Bridge at West Carson Street; Fifth Avenue at Ross Street; and Roberto Clemente Bridge at Isabella Street. Drivers must meet certain procedures in order to enter Downtown. “When you look at the range of vehicles we are making exceptions for, this is by no means a total traffic restriction,” said Huss. During the summit, motorcades for more than 20 dignitaries will be traveling from the Pittsburgh International Airport into Downtown. Public safety officials will be responsible for ensuring that the dignitaries arrive safely at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. “When you’re transporting dignitaries into Downtown Pittsburgh, there are only a few ingress options for motorcades. When you think about the challenge of bringing more than 20 high-level dignitaries into the convention center, you can imagine the gridlock that will occur if we allow all traffic to come in and out.” said City Police Motorcycle Lieutenant Joseph Tersak. “While it seems alarming that Downtown streets will be closed to most vehicular traffic, the bigger picture is that we are doing this to keep our interstate ramps free from gridlock so that traffic will flow in all areas of the City.” A video from Lieutenant Tersak explaining the planning efforts and details about the Plan is available at www.g20safety.org. *The traffic restrictions will begin at 12 midnight, Wed., Sept. 23. It is the City’s goal to re-open Downtown to all vehicles as soon as possible on the evening of Friday, September 25. * The United States Secret Service will also set up temporary traffic closures that will take place on Sept. 24-25 around the areas of the Warhol Museum, Phipps Conservatory, and the Heinz Farm. The Secret Service will be announcing these traffic restrictions at a later date. *PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING DETOURS* Officials strongly encourage Downtown employees to take public transportation or car pool on September 24-25. *Several surface parking lots along the periphery of Downtown have been identified as possible parking detours for Downtown parkers. These identified lots contain nearly 20,000 parking spaces and are located in the lower Hill District, Uptown, Station Square, the Strip District, and the North Shore. Numerous small service lots and garages exist around the immediate area of these larger lots. More than 60 Port Authority Park and Ride lots<http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/CustomerInfo/ParkandRideLots/ParkandRideLotInformation/tabid/403/Default.aspx>with roughly 15,000 spaces will be open, allowing commuters to park out of town and ride public transportation into the city. “Port Authority buses and T cars will serve Downtown Pittsburgh through the G-20 Summit,” said Port Authority CEO Steve Bland. “Bus and T routes will detour onto different streets as they enter and exit Downtown Pittsburgh, but they’ll still get you there.” The City's 311 hotline will expand its hours and staff to answer questions and concerns related to the G-20 summit and transportation plan. The enhanced hotline will launch Saturday, Sept. 19 until the following Saturday, Sept. 26. Visit G20safety.org and click “stay informed” to view hours of operation as well as links to Port Authority route changes and visual maps. Public safety officials encourage residents and businesses to sign up for emergency text and email alerts at www.g20safety.org. Officials will send out instantaneous messages related to public safety matters only. Other important alerts designed for emergency business communication and for Port Authority riders can be accessed via the website. ### Attached fact sheets with visual maps: Rules on permitted vehicle entry procedures Suggested Parking Detour Routes Port Authority top tips How to stay informed *Date:* Sept. 15, 2009 *Contact:* Joanna Doven, Press Secretary 412-255-2694 (cell) 412-475-2387 joanna.doven@city.pittsburgh.pa.us ------------------------------ LEGAL DISCLAIMER* Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information.* Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, forwarding, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. *Any questions should be directed to Allegheny County Help Desk at 412-350-HELP (412-350-4357) or e-mail HelpDesk@AlleghenyCounty.US* ---------- __ <http://lists.highlandparkpa.com/mailman/listinfo/editor> -- Lisa Williams 6031 Jackson St Pittsburgh, PA 15206 lcwilliams99@gmail.com 412-665-3933
