F1 race transportation plan released

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It won't be long before throngs of racing fans converge at the new Circuit of The Americas race track east of Austin for the U.S. Grand Prix Formula One race and transportation becomes the first priority.

Monday, CoTA officials announced the plan which has been two years in the making. City of Austin, Texas Department of Transportation and consulting firms have worked with track officials to formulate a safe and efficient process for the patrons, employees, vendors and media to get to and from the site, according to CoTA.

“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,” CoTA 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.”

Transportation guidelines are as follows:

• Carpool when possible to the circuit and to shuttle stop locations.
• Leave early for the racetrack. 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 track 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. (Follow printing directions rather than GPS-identified routes.)
• Expect traffic delays and anticipate congestion where it normally occurs on Interstate Highway 35, on State Highway 183, on State Highway 71/290 between I-35 and State Highway 130, on main arteries leading downtown, and in the area of 12th Street, 15th Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard near the downtown Park & Ride location
• Plan to spend the day at the track; 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.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport parking

• A third Park & Ride location at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 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 CoTA:

• Decker Lane East to
• SH 130 South to
• Elroy Road West to
• FM 973 South to
• McAngus Road East to
• McAngus Road Bus Depot

Downtown at 15th and Trinity streets Shuttle Route to CoTA:

• Martin Luther King Boulevard East to
• SH 130 South to
• FM 973 South to
• McAngus Road East to
• 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