Circuit of The Americas announces Transportation Plan
“This comprehensive plan was designed and will be implemented by a team of experts that has managed transportation planning for some of the world’s largest sporting events, including the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and NBA All-Star Weekends and the Kentucky Derby to name a few," Circuit President Steve Sexton said. “We will have guests arriving to the Circuit by car, charter bus, helicopter, taxi, limousine and shuttle bus. Our free shuttle bus service will transport up to 50 percent of ticketed guests to the Circuit each day of the Grand Prix and will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road and provide a turn-key transportation solution for guests without access to on-site parking. Additionally, we have a designated cyclist route to a nearby shuttle bus location.
“We’re expecting a tremendous turnout for our first Formula 1 event," Sexton continued, “so it’s important for everyone to follow the guidelines we’re providing and plan their time accordingly for their trip to Circuit of The Americas this fall. Our entire team extends its sincere thanks to the officials with Travis County, the City of Austin and the Texas Department of Transportation who have helped us improve and refine this plan over the last several months. Their input has been invaluable."
Circuit of The Americas and local transportation and public safety officials are recommending these general guidelines for guests attending the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX:
· Carpool when possible to Circuit and to shuttle stop locations.
· Leave early for the Circuit! Attendees should expect to add at least one hour to their travel time to get to their shuttle Park + Ride location and at least 90 minutes to get from their lodgings to the Circuit with an on-site parking pass.
· Do not bring prohibited items on shuttle buses; there will be no place to store them at the Circuit’s entry gates. A list of prohibited items is available at www.circuitoftheamericas.com.
· Individuals with an on-site parking pass should follow the specific driving directions and recommended routes that will be printed on their parking passes in order to enter the Circuit. (Please follow printing directions rather than GPS-identified routes.)
· Expect traffic delays and anticipate congestion where it normally occurs on I-35, on Highway 183, on Highway 71/290 between I-35 and SH 130, on main arteries leading downtown, and in the area of 12th Street, 15th Street and Martin Luther King Blvd. near the downtown Park + Ride location.
· Plan to spend the day at the Circuit; there will be lots to see and experience.
· Wear comfortable clothing and shoes; dress for the weather.
Guests who will be using the complimentary shuttles will be encouraged to park at designated Park + Ride locations based on the following criteria:
· In-state ticketed patrons should park at the Travis County Expo Center and ride the complimentary shuttles from that location to the Circuit. Parking is free at the Travis County Expo Center.
· Out-of-state ticketed patrons, including anyone staying in the downtown area, should park in the area of 15th Street and Trinity Street—or take for-hire transportation, such as taxi cabs to that location—and take the free shuttles from that location to the Circuit.
Please note: Downtown parking garages may charge for parking.
A third Park + Ride location at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) that includes a paid parking lot with complimentary shuttle service to the Circuit has already SOLD OUT. Only patrons who purchased parking at the ABIA Park + Ride location and can display their paid parking permit will be able to board the free shuttles at that location and ride them to and from the Circuit.
The complimentary shuttles will travel these designated routes to Circuit of The Americas, which are meant to take advantage of the lightly traveled toll road, SH 130:
Travis County Expo Center Shuttle Route to Circuit
o Decker Lane East to
o SH 130 South to
o Elroy Road West to
o FM 973 South to
o McAngus Road East to
o McAngus Road Bus Depot
Downtown at 15th and Trinity Streets Shuttle Route to Circuit
o Martin Luther King Blvd. East to
o SH 130 South to
o FM 973 South to
o McAngus Road East to
o McAngus Road Bus Depot
Taxis, limousines, charter bus and hire-car services with the proper permits can transport ticketed customers to Circuit of The Americas. Designated routes will be assigned to each for-hire vendor. Taxis will stage in a designated taxi pick-up area and will be available to transport race fans off site throughout Grand Prix weekend.
Cyclists will also have a designated route from the downtown area along Burleson Road to a Valet Park + Ride location at Richard Moya Park (on Burleson Road at Emma Browning Ave.). From the Valet Park + Ride location, cyclists can take a free shuttle to the Circuit.
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Additionally, Circuit of The Americas will have an internal shuttle system to help transports guests, staff and working media around the 3.4-mile racecourse. Internal shuttles will have designated pick-up/drop-off points to transport guests who prefer not to walk to seating areas or points of interest around the Circuit.
The transportation plan supporting the 2012 FORMULA 1 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX is fully accessible and is being funded entirely by Circuit of The Americas as a courtesy to its guests. Approximately, 450 shuttle buses rented from organizations in the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio area will be utilized during the three-day race weekend.