What to know about traffic, road closure
The Taylor Swift concerts at Levi’s Stadium this weekend are expected to create a traffic nightmare in Santa Clara, with road closures and delays anticipated on several major thoroughfares as early as Friday morning.
Approximately 58,000 people are expected to attend each concert on Friday and Saturday, both starting at 6:30 p.m. But Santa Clara police said heavy traffic will likely start around 1 p.m. both days and continue until about 11 p.m. Parking lots open at 2 p.m. both days.
Highways 101, 237, 880, Lawrence Expressway, Great American Parkway and San Tomas Expressway will likely see bumper-to-bumper traffic on both days, Santa Clara police said.
Concertgoers were urged to head out early to avoid traffic or take public transportation, such as the Valley Transportation Authority, ACE/Capitol Corridor heavy rail or CalTrain. People can also check the city’s traffic cameras to plan their commute to the concert.
Here is the list of street closures, a rideshare drop-off location, parent pickup zones, bicycle valet service and other important information concertgoers, residents, businesses and commuters should know, according to Santa Clara police:
Street closures
Tasman Drive will be closed from Convention Center Circle to Centennial/Marie P. DeBartolo Way beginning at 9:30 a.m. Friday through the end of the concert Saturday.
The off-ramp slipway from eastbound Tasman Drive to Stars and Stripes Drive will be closed except for train station, Youth Soccer Park and Gold Lot 1-5 users. They will remain closed until the end of the Saturday concert.
The San Tomas Aquino/Saratoga Creek Trail will close at Agnew Road about 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use the Creek Trail to enter the stadium starting at 2 p.m. each day.
Northbound-treveling cyclists not attending the concerts will be rerouted via Agnew Road, Lakeshore Drive, Gianera Street, the VTA Great America Train Station parking lot, Stars and Stripes Drive, Temporary Road/Stars and Stripes Extension, Great America Parkway and then back to the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail.
Pedestrians not attending the concert will be rerouted via Agnew Road, Mission College Boulevard, Great America Parkway past the Santa Clara Convention Center and then back to the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail.
Law enforcement will control traffic in the north and southbound direction to help concertgoers exiting the parking lots, which will impact Highway 237 at Great America Parkway. The highway’s off-ramps will be closed, officials said.
Great America Parkway will be closed northbound from Highway 101 and southbound from Highway 237.
Public transportation
People are encouraged to take public transportation to the concerts.
The Valley Transportation Authority offers light rail and bus services throughout Santa Clara.
Here is a list of buses and light rail services commuters can take to get to Levi’s Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
Those commuting from outside of Santa Clara County can take BART to the Milpitas BART station, transfer to VTA’s Orange Line and then ride to VTA’s Great America Station, which is on the north side of the stadium.
BART said it plans to have additional security and staff on Friday and Saturday, with safety parking lot escorts available until after midnight. The agency will run its normal last train leaving Milpitas at 11:51 p.m.
Two special event limited-stop trains will be available, leaving the Milpitas BART Station around 12:30 a.m. and making stops at Bay Fair, MacArthur, Pleasant Hill and El Cerrito del Norte.
Concertgoers traveling from San Francisco are encouraged to take Caltrain or the 11:51 p.m. BART train to San Francisco.
The northbound Caltrain service from Mountain View to San Francisco will leave 75 minutes after the end of the concert, the agency said. Southbound service to San Jose Diridon/Tamien will leave at 11:16 p.m., 12:15 a.m. and 1:21 a.m.
BART said it will not have any of its San Francisco stops open beyond normal closing hours because of the lack of parking lots at its stations and because Caltrain is offering a special service to San Francisco for the concert days.
Parent pickup zone
To get to the parent pickup zone from Highway 101, take the Great America Parkway northbound exit, turn right onto Patrick Henry Drive and then follow signage and staff directions. The parent pickup zone will open after California’s Great America theme park closes at 10 p.m.
A rideshare drop-off location will be on Great America Parkway in the drop-off zone at California’s Great America theme park. The Red Lot 7 has been designated as the rideshare pick-up location after the event.
Complimentary bicycle valet service
The complimentary bicycle valet service will be at the stadium’s Green Lot 1 near Gate C and Gate A. Valet service will be available 3.5 hours before the event through an hour before the concert ends. The following trails and roads have bicycle routes leading to the stadium: San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail, John W. Christian Greenbelt Trail/Prescott, Guadalupe River Trail, Great America Parkway, Lafayette Street, Tasman Drive/Great Mall Parkway/Capital Avenue and North First Street. “Bicycle traffic on the San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail will be diverted in order to ensure the integrity of the stadium’s security perimeter,” officials said.
Do not park in these areas, police say
No parking will be allowed on Tasman Drive and on the “clearly marked posted section” of Lick Mill Boulevard on Friday and Saturday.
“Do not park in residential neighborhoods,” police said.
Residents in these areas were encouraged to allow additional time for travel or take alternative routes to and from their homes.
Parking for the concerts will be discouraged about 1 p.m. each day on Fairway Glen Drive and Eisenhower Drive east of Lafayette Street. Residents in this area are encouraged to use Hogan Drive or Calle de Primavera to get to their homes.
Also around 1 p.m. parking will be discouraged on Bassett Street, Davis Street, Fillmore Street and Lake Santa Clara Drive west of Lafayette Street. Residents can use Cheeney Street and Lakeshore Drive to get to their homes.
Public safety
Santa Clara city officials said they’re taking several public safety measures ahead and during the concerts. The Police Department will have officers at the following intersections: Lafayette Street and Calle de Primavera; Lafayette Street and Hogan Drive; Agnew Road and Lakeshore Drive; Agnew Road and Cheeney Street; Wilcox Avenue and Gianera Street (egress only).
Residents and business owners can contact the Police Department’s non-emergency, stadium-related incident phone line at 408-615-2280.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
