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Need a Ride to Jazz Fest?

by Dawne Massey

April 26, 2017

Categories: Announcement

Topics: Traffic Alert

Need a Ride to Jazz Fest?

Second only to Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fetsival is one of New Orleans’ favorite times of the year. For two glorious weekends, the Fair Grounds Race Course comes alive with music from some of the world’s best musicians and attracts hundreds of thousands of music fans.

And their cars.

Needless to say, parking will be at a premium, so many of this year’s festival-goers will opt out of driving and find an alternate way to get to the festivities.

As always NOPD will be on hand to make sure everyone gets into and out of the event safely, however if you’re planning to imbibe, please call a ride. Leave the driving to someone else and make sure you and your road crew get home safely.

New Orleans’ Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will service the 2017 Jazz Fest with four different transit lines including extra service to meet the heavy demand that’s expected. There are three bus lines that will take you within walking distance of the Fair Grounds – (94) Broad, (32) Leonidas and (91) Jackson/Esplanade – and the Canal-City Park/Museum streetcar.

Purchase RTA one-day passes at the intersections of Canal and Bourbon Street and Canal and Carondelet streets, or at one of four ticket vending machines: 2817 Canal Street, at Canal and Bourbon, Canal at City Park Avenue, and Canal at North Peters. Regular RTA rides are $1.25 and one-day unlimited ride Jazzy Passes are $3. Get more information on the RTA website.

If you’re looking for a more direct route to the fest, hail a taxi or take Uber or Lyft.

Festival fans can catch a taxi cab or a pedicab at one of three cab stands outside the Fair Grounds. Taxis will stage at the corner of Gentilly Boulevard and Lapeyrouse Street (Stallings Park) and Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street (Fortier Park). Pedicabs will line up across the street from the park.

Gray Line Tours will operate the Jazz Fest Express , a continuous round-trip shuttle operating each day of the festival.  From 10:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. the Jazz Fest Express will pick-up and drop-off at multiple locations inclduing the Sheraton Hotel, Steamboat Natchez Dock next to Jax Brewery, and at the intersection of Wisner Boulevard and Filmore Boulevard. To avoid traffic the bus will take festival-goers inside the gates of the festival via a special entrance used only by Jazz Fest Express vehicles.

Heavy traffic after the festival and the road closures associated with the event will make it difficult for Uber drivers to get to riders near the Fair Grounds so Uber’s New Orleans office recommends walking to these locations to rendezvous with your ride: Broad and Esplanade; Esplanade and North Carrollton; and on Desaix Boulevard.

One thing to remember when using Uber: If you open the app on the festival grounds, you won't be able to request a ride. Instead you’ll receive these instructions: Walk away from the festival grounds and street closures before requesting. Call your driver to determine the best pickup location.

No matter how you choose to get to the Fair Grounds, be safe. Uber reminds riders to follow these safety tips:

  • Confirm your driver: There will be multiple people requesting rides after the festival, so make sure you get into the right car with the right driver. Double check your driver's car model, license plate, and photo in the app before you hop in your ride. Uber rides can only be requested through the app, so never accept street hail solicitations from those claiming to be Uber.
  • Share your trip details: Need to let your group know when you'll arrive? Share your trip details with them from the app.
  • Be nice or leave: Festivals should be a fun time for all so please be considerate to your driver. Respect their vehicle and follow our Community Guidelines so that everyone can enjoy the spirit of the season.
  • Avoid a cleaning fee: Make sure you don't get caught up in a cleaning fee by keeping your fest gear in check.
  • Leave something behind? You can contact your driver directly in the app to track down a lost item.

Two-wheeled transportation is another option for getting to and from the fest.  Jazz Fest provides bicycle parking pens with racks at the pedestrian entrances on Gentilly Boulevard and Sauvage Street. Don’t forget to bring a lock to secure your ride.