FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 10/03/2019 Contact: Denise Brotherton, Iowa City Police Captain Phone: 319-356-5440
Greta Thunberg Iowa City visit: road closures, event information
With Friday's visit from international climate change activist Greta Thunberg expected to draw thousands to Downtown Iowa City, the City of Iowa City has announced event details, road closures, and transit changes.
Event information
Thunberg and other climate activists are expected to speak to gathered audiences beginning at noon Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, on a stage located at the intersection of North Dubuque Street and Iowa Avenue.
The location was changed from the Pedestrian Mall to the intersection in order to handle a larger crowd.
The speakers are expected to finish around 1 p.m.
Road closures and towing
To accommodate crowds, two roads will be closed.
Dubuque from East Jefferson Street to East Washington Street.
Iowa from South Linn Street to North Clinton Street.
Roads will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Friday and are expected to reopen by 4 p.m. the same day. Vehicles parked in tow-away zones in that area will be towed if parked between 2 and 6 a.m.
Vehicles can be moved to a Downtown parking ramp, or to on-street parking spaces outside of the area. Be sure to follow all posted signs.
Transit changes
Several bus routes will be detoured during the event, and some bus stops closed.
Starting at 6 a.m. Friday, the bus interchange will move from Washington and Clinton Street to a temporary location on Court Street between Clinton and Dubuque (adjacent to the Court Street Transportation Center) until the service day is concluded. Normal bus service utilizing the main transit interchange will resume on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.
There also will be no Northside Free Shuttle service for the entirety of the day.
The following bus stops will also be closed:
Outbound
Washington Street and Linn Street (stop 7200)
Washington Street and Gilbert Street (stop 7201)
Washington Street and Van Buren Street (stop 7046)
Clinton Street & Jefferson Street (stop 7400)
Jefferson Street & Linn Street (stop 7401
Jefferson Street and Van Buren Street (stop 7123)
Jefferson Street and Dodge Street (stop 7403)
Washington Street and Madison Street (stop 7082)
UI Main Library (stop 7080)
Inbound
Mercy Hospital (stop 7443)
Market Street & Linn Street (stop 7206)
Clinton Street & Jefferson Street (stop 7207)
Customers who use these stops should catch their buses at the alternate interchange on Court Street. These stops will reopen on Saturday, October 5, 2019.
Parking
With the event scheduled in the middle of a weekday, it is expected parking ramps in central Downtown Iowa City will be close to full.Those include:
Chauncey Swan Parking Ramp, 415 E. Washington St.
Dubuque Street ramp, 220 S. Dubuque St.
Capitol Street ramp, 220 S. Capitol St.
Tower Place parking ramp, 335 Iowa Ave.
Those coming to the event are urged to walk, bike, or take transit to the event.
Those who do drive should use the two parking ramps south of Burlington Street: the Court Street Transportation Center, 150 E. Court St., and the Harrison Street Parking Ramp, 175 E. Harrison St.
