City, F1 working on race traffic plan

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The city of Austin and organizers of the Formula One race weekend next month are planning several free bus routes and road closures in an effort to get people to and from the track and around the city.

“The Transportation Department’s main focus is how do we move people around and through downtown," said Gordon Derr of the the city's Transportation Department. "And we’ll be actively involved in that in the next six weeks before the event occurs.”

• ATX Grand Prix traffic information

Derr said officials are looking at options ranging from bicycles to pedicabs to transit limos and to walking to help people who plan to attend the F1-related events.

"We need to have all the information they need so they can serve their clientele,” he said.

“We need to help people understand where the closures are, when the closings are happening, but we’re looking at the whole spectrum of transportation options because we’re going to need all of them to move the amount of people, of visitors we’re going have to Austin.”

A writer from Autoweek, Alan Pease, questioned the city's transportation readiness, however.

"My principle concern is the transportation, and the parking, and the downtown area right here," Pease said. "How are people supposed to get around? What would satisfy me is a public Q&A [session] where people can ask questions."

"The resources we've been working on -- we have a website, ATXgrandprix.org , which has a lot of information on there. We're also looking at applications to help people find parking."

In addition to its regular local bus, late night and rail service, Capital Metro plans to expand service during Formula 1:

• MetroAirport service to/from the Austin Bergstrom International Airport and downtown every 15 minutes on Nov. 15-19. ($1 one-way fare)
• Expanded MetroRail service on Nov. 17 and 18, in addition to regular service scheduled for other days ($1 one-way, one zone fare; $2.75 one-way, all-zones fare)
• A downtown "circulator" will help people get around downtown, Nov. 16-18, 7 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
• Many downtown streets will be closed to traffic during Formula 1.
• Because many downtown streets will be closed to vehicular traffic, most downtown bus service can be accessed along Guadalupe (southbound) and Lavaca (northbound), Nov. 15-18.
• Expanded MetroRail service on Nov. 17 and 18, in addition to regular service scheduled for other days ($1 one-way, one zone fare; $2.75 one-way, all-zones fare)

Interactive bus and street-closure map

View Formula 1 Cap Metro Plan in a larger map