City Announces Preparations in Advance of 2018 Mardi Gras
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the City of New
Orleans provided an update on preparations, parking instructions, traffic
restrictions and safety regulations in advance of the 2018 Mardi Gras
season. Parades are scheduled to begin Friday, February 2. Click here to
see the full list of parade routes.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) will have officers
staffed at 100 percent capacity throughout the city during the 2018 Mard Gras
season. The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) and New Orleans Emergency
Medical Services (NOEMS) will also have all hands on deck and be ready to respond
in the event of an emergency.
Along parade routes, the New Orleans Health Department will be
staffing First Aid Stations at the following locations one hour before the
first float of the first parade arrives and until the crowds disperse:
- On
Feb.2 - Feb.4 and Feb.7 - Feb.13: corner of St. Charles Avenue and
Napoleon Avenue, St. Charles Avenue and Washington Avenue, St.
Charles Avenue and Felicity Street, Lee Circle, and St. Charles Avenue and
Canal Street
- On
Feb. 10, an additional station will be located at Orleans Avenue and N.
Hennessy Street
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness will be monitoring all parade activity and will coordinate with
local, state, and federal public safety partners.
To keep residents and visitors fully informed this Mardi Gras
season, the City will provide live updates to the public about weather, traffic
and general parade safety. Parade goers are encouraged to text MARDIGRAS
to 888777 to receive text alerts.
FRENCH QUARTER TRAFFIC CLOSURES
As was done for New Year’s Eve and past Mardi Gras seasons, the
NOPD will implement an exterior (soft) and an interior (hard) closure of French Quarter streets for the Carnival Season.
Beginning on Friday, Feb. 2 through Sunday, Feb. 4, and Wednesday,
Feb. 7, until Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 6 a.m., vehicular access in the French
Quarter will be more restricted and on-street parking will be limited.
- From
5 p.m. until 5 a.m. on the days listed above, there will be an interior
(hard) closure of all streets leading to Bourbon Street from Royal
and Dauphine Streets. Bollards will be in place on all streets leading to
Bourbon Street, creating a pedestrian mall. No vehicles will be allowed to
enter. Bollards will be placed behind the last driveway to any hotel or
parking garage.
- Parking
will be prohibited in the 700 and 800 blocks of all streets from Iberville
to St. Ann Streets between 12 p.m. and 6 a.m. on the days listed
above.
Beginning on Friday, Feb. 9 at 6 a.m. and ending at 6 a.m. on
Wednesday, Feb. 14, there will be an exterior (soft) closure for all streets
leading into the French Quarter from Canal, N. Rampart, Dumaine, and Decatur
Streets.
From 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night of parades:
- Only
taxis, TNCs, limos, hotel guests, and vehicles needing to access their
businesses and residences will be allowed to enter the French Quarter from
Canal, Decatur, Dumaine and Rampart Streets.
- The
100-800 blocks of Bourbon Street will be a pedestrian mall. Vehicles will
not be able to cross Bourbon Street, and will be detoured at all points
along Dauphine and Royal Streets.
- Large
trucks, buses and vans may be directed to detour out of the area and only
access the French Quarter on exterior streets. Exterior streets are all
streets leading into the French Quarter on Canal, Decatur, N. Rampart and
Dumaine Streets.
- Motorists
should be prepared for heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic as security
measures are increased.
ST. CHARLES AVENUE
The $4.3M St. Charles Avenue Repaving Project between Louisiana Avenue
and Calliope Streets, which is a joint effort between the City of New Orleans
and Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, will be
substantially complete by the end of January. Crews will demobilize by Jan.31
in preparation for the first Uptown route Mardi Gras parade on Feb. 2.
Crews will return after Mardi Gras to place sod, install permanent striping and
complete other minor punch list items. The entire project will be wrapped
up in spring 2018.
OPERATIONS
The City will provide over 650 portable toilets for public use. On
Jan. 31, 2018, the Department of Property Management will begin placing
portable toilets along parade routes. See map of
portable toilet locations.
MARDI GRAS PARKING ENFORCEMENT
In addition to permanent "No Parking" signs posted along
parade routes, the City will install approximately 3,000 temporary signs.
Drivers are encouraged to pay close attention when parking to avoid being
ticketed or towed.
Two hours prior to the scheduled start of each Mardi Gras parade,
any unauthorized vehicle on any part of the published parade route will be
ticketed and towed.
Parking is prohibited on either side of the following streets two
hours before and after parades:
- Tchoupitoulas
Street between Jackson and Nashville Avenues;
- Napoleon
Avenue between Tchoupitoulas Street and S. Claiborne Avenue; and
- St.
Charles Avenue between Napoleon Avenue and Canal Street.
On Saturday, Feb. 10 only, parking is prohibited on either side of
the following streets from 6 a.m. until two hours after parades end:
- Canal
Street from S. Carrollton to St. Charles Avenues;
- N.
Carrollton Avenue from Canal Street to Orleans Avenue; and
- Orleans
Avenue from City Park to N. Carrollton Avenues
This will ensure public safety and facilitate the flow of the
Carnival Krewes (violations result in a $75 fine and seizure).
Two hours after a Mardi Gras parade ends, any unauthorized vehicle
on any part of the published parade route will be ticketed and towed. This is
done to keep the route clear so that it can be cleaned by the City’s Department
of Sanitation (violations result in a $75 fine and seizure).
Beginning Friday, Feb. 9, at 6 a.m. until the Wednesday, Feb.
14, at 6 a.m., no on-street parking is allowed and no vehicular traffic except
those with issued permits are allowed into the French Quarter between Iberville, N. Rampart, Dumaine and Decatur Streets (violations result in a $75 fine and
seizure).
Crews will be towing on all cross streets of Bourbon Street during
the events, including the 700-800 blocks of Iberville Street, St. Ann Street,
and the 700 block of Royal Street.
Parking of recreational vehicles, campers and oversize vehicles
is prohibited in residential areas. It is strictly enforced during the Mardi
Gras season particularly in the Uptown/University area, Central Business District,
Warehouse District and Garden District.
Before, during and after the parades, the City will extend
enforcement efforts into the neighborhoods adjacent to the published parade
routes. This will minimize non-residential intrusion. Parking officers will
primarily enforce the following safety violations:
- Blocking
a fire hydrant ($40 fine)
- Parking
in a fire lane ($40 fine)
- Parking
within 15 feet of a fire hydrant on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking
within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection, or stop sign ($40 fine)
- Parking
on a sidewalk ($40 fine)
- Parking
on a traveled portion of the roadway ($40 fine)
- Parking
within 3 feet of a driveway on either side ($40 fine)
- Parking
on the neutral ground and subject to seizure ($75 fine)
- Parking
adjacent to the neutral ground ($40 fine)
- Parking
in freight/loading zone ($40 fine)
- Parking
in a handicapped zone without proper permit displayed ($500 fine)
- Parking
at an expired meter ($40 fine)
- Parking
in a Residential Permit Parking zone without a permit displayed ($75 fine)
- Parking
in the wrong direction (vehicles must park in the direction of travel on
one way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two way streets)
($40 fine)
- Vehicles
that have unpaid parking tickets will be booted and/or towed.
Additionally, parking enforcement, towing staff and auto impound
offices will work the following extended hours during the 2018 Mardi Gras
season:
- Friday,
Feb. 9 through Sunday, Feb. 11, 7 a.m. – 3 a.m.
- Monday,
Feb. 12, 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.
- Tuesday,
Feb.13, 5 a.m. – 1 a.m.
For more information on parking enforcement, citizens may call:
- Department
of Public Works parking enforcement and information, (504) 658-8100
(answered 24 hours)
- Residential
Parking Permits information, (504) 658-8200
- Release
of boot, (504) 599-5652
- Information
on Ticket/Tow Appeals Hearings, (504) 658-8250
Parking enforcement personnel will be monitoring for illegal
parking, including blocking hydrants, driveways and sidewalks, or parking
within 20 feet of a crosswalk, intersection or stop signs. Motorists are also
reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets and with the
right wheel to the curb on two-way streets.
PARKS & PARKWAYS NEUTRAL GROUND ENFORCEMENT
The city’s neutral grounds are the direct responsibility of the
Department of Parks and Parkways; therefore, any prohibited items that are
placed on the neutral grounds will be removed and disposed of immediately.
The following rules are being enforced:
- All
ladders used by parade spectators shall be structurally sound. No ladder,
chairs, ice chests, chaise lounges, barbecue grills, and other similar
personal effects shall be placed in intersections or between curbs of
public streets during a parade.
- Ladders,
tents, grills and other personal effects shall be placed six feet back
from the street curb.
- Fastening
two or more ladders together is prohibited.
- Roping
off areas of the neutral ground, public sidewalks, or other public
property is prohibited.
- All
items placed on the neutral ground must be removed immediately after
the parade and cannot be left overnight. Items left unattended are subject
to be cleared by City crews. Leaving items on the median negatively
impacts post parade clean-up operations.
- Citizens
are encouraged not to set up before 8 a.m. on the day of parade excluding
Mardi Gras Day.
- Portable
toilets are allowed on private property. A permit is required for those
who charge a fee for usage of private portable toilets. Private portable
toilets will not be allowed on neutral grounds, public sidewalks, or other
public property without written consent from the appropriate governmental
agency. A fine of $250 per day will assessed against the owner of the
portable toilet.
- No
structures can be erected (i.e. viewing stands, bleachers) without a
permit. The only allowed structures are those that are provided by the
City Of New Orleans in city designated areas or those on privately owned
properties that have been granted permission and issued permits by the
City’s Department of Safety and Permits.
GENERAL REMINDERS
- No
bulky furniture can be placed on neutral grounds.
- Please
stand behind the barricades when they are placed along streets while the
parade is passing.
- Please
do not run between floats or vehicles while the parade is in progress.
- Ladders
should not be placed in the street or be tied together and should be
placed back six feet from the curb.
- Parade
viewers may not throw any object at any participant in a carnival parade.
Violation of this provision includes a $250 fine per violation.
- Please
do not stand or walk close to heavy equipment used in the clean-up
process.
- The
juvenile curfew will be enforced during Mardi Gras. City curfew hours for
juveniles are Sunday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Friday
through Saturday from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. In the French Quarter, the hours
are Friday through Saturday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Closed tents are prohibited on the parade route. While canopy tents are allowed, they must be 6 feet away from the curb.
SANITATION
The Department of Sanitation is responsible for cleaning the
streets, neutral grounds and sidewalks after parades held on both sides of the
Mississippi River in the City of New Orleans.
Up to 600 City workers, temporary workers, contracted employees
and 87 pieces of equipment may be utilized each day in clean-up efforts.
The success of Mardi Gras depends upon returning public rights of
ways to normalcy and cleanliness as soon as possible after each parade. In
order for this to occur efficiently and effectively, cooperation from the
public in following parking restrictions along parade routes and the
placement of items such as ladders, tarps, and furniture on neutral grounds is
vital.
Vehicular traffic will be restricted until clean-up crews have
passed for the safety of the workers and the general public. The City urges
the public to avoid walking in areas where heavy equipment is in operation.
The City encourages everyone to recycle Mardi Gras beads and other
recyclable items. The Young Leadership Council (YLC) is collaborating with
ARC of Greater New Orleans, Republic Services, Krewe of Freret, Krewe of
Thoth, and the City’s Department of Sanitation to launch a pilot recycling
initiative. After the parades of Freret on Feb. 3 and Thoth on Feb. 11,
paradegoers can recycle their beads and recyclable plastics and metals along
the parade routes.
YLCRecycles and ARC volunteers will distribute recycling bags before, during
and after parades to krewes and paradegoers. Along the parade route, volunteers
will staff six recycling stations on Napoleon and St. Charles Avenues.
Paradegoers can drop off recycled throws and disposable waste in the bins at
each station. To view station locations, visit ylcnola.org/mardigras. YLC
and ARC will also have volunteers pick up bags from paradegoers between
stations.
Residents can bring their recyclable plastics and metals home to
recycle curbside or to the City’s Recycling Drop Off Center (2829 Elysian
Fields Ave.). The next Recycling Drop Off Event will be held on February
17.
MARDI GRAS 2018 PERMITTING INFORMATION AND RESTRICTIONS
REVENUE AND PERMIT ENFORCEMENT
City of New Orleans Bureau of Revenue field agents and collectors
will be canvassing neighborhoods in and around parade routes to ensure
businesses (including ABOs) and vendors are properly permitted. Additionally,
residents or businesses charging for parking at commercial properties must be
properly permitted. 501c3 organizations may apply for an exemption for a
portion of the fees associated with the appropriate permits.
The sale of silly string, snap pops, and stink bombs is prohibited.
Bureau of Revenue field agents and collectors will confiscate any snap pops
found on mobile vendors.
Food Trucks Inspection
Unless a Food Truck Permit holder also obtained a Mardi Gras Fixed
Location Vendor permit, no food trucks are allowed within two blocks of a
parade route, from two hours before the parade starts until two hours after the
parade has passed any part of the route.
Mardi Gras Event and Vending Permits
Please Visit http://www.nola.gov/onestop/events/mardi-gras/ for
information on:
- Concession
Stands
- Bracing
- Reviewing
Stands
- Temporary
Parking Lot Permits
- Portolet
Permits
- Vendor
Permits (including Walkers and Fixed Location Vendors)
You can also download the 2018 Mardi Gras
Guide and 2018 Mardi Gras
Procedures
Fixed Location Vendors Key Dates
Mardi Gras Fixed Location Vendors may come to City Hall (1300
Perdido St., Room 1W15) to chose their fixed locations in the order in which
they pulled during the vendor lottery. Vendors selected in the lottery
must attend the fixed location selection process with a valid picture ID. Names
will be called according to their placement on the lottery board. Participants
unable to attend the selection process must authorize one representative to
attend in their place in writing ahead of time with the Bureau of
Revenue. Representatives must have valid picture ID. Each participant is
allowed 10 minutes to select one fixed location.
If you are interested in obtaining a Mardi Gras Walker Permit,
please visit http://www.nola.gov/onestop/events/mardi-gras/mardi-gras-walker-permit/
to obtain relevant materials. The Bureau of Revenue will begin accepting
applications on Jan. 29.
Individuals interested in obtaining Mardi Gras Walker Permits to
sell novelties or pre-packaged food without a fixed location can go to the
Revenue office in City Hall (1300 Perdido St., Room 1W15) during the week of
January 29 to obtain the necessary permits.
Mardi Gras information and updates are also available on the
City’s website at www.nola.gov/mardigras .
The City compiled information regarding safety regulations, enforcement
policies, permitting information and helpful suggestions, including interactive
parade maps, in one location so that residents and visitors can be better
prepared before heading out to the parades.
In addition, RTA services, including bus service, may be
interrupted during this event. Details on any route changes are available at www.norta.com .
# # #
|
