City Issues Reminders In Advance Of The 2017 New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival

NEW ORLEANS – With the 2017 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival set to open at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Friday, April 28, the city is reminding the public about the procedures and requirements for selling goods and public parking in the festival’s vicinity.

         This year’s festival dates are Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30 and Thursday, May 4 to Sunday, May 7.

         “I’m thrilled to celebrate 48 years of this iconic festival,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival a decades-old tradition that stands as a true cultural symbol and is unrivaled by any other festival in the world. Jazz Fest gets bigger and better with each passing year and attracts hundreds of thousands of revelers to the Fair Grounds. We encourage all residents and visitors to make a plan before heading out to Fair Grounds to enjoy a day of music, food and culture. As in previous years, city enforcement officials will be on site to ensure that local businesses are in compliance with city ordinances. Our goal is to make commercial business owners and non-profit managers aware of the rules and regulations, and to eliminate confusion in advance.”

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COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ENFORCEMENT

         City code requires that commercial businesses get the appropriate permits if they wish to operate on their commercially-zoned property during the festival. In the event that a nonprofit organization plans to manage a parking service on commercial property, they must also apply for a permit through the One Stop Shop.

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         In addition, existing businesses will be allowed to sell their products on their property, both inside and outside of their business contingent upon not blocking the public right-of-way. However, the city will aggressively enforce the rules that prohibit transient vendors (carts, trucks, etc.) from improperly selling their products within the festival’s “Clean Zone.”

         The Clean Zone is a temporary designation that seeks to protect the quality of life for residents and assists businesses in thriving during the 2017 Jazz and Heritage Festival. Simultaneously, the designation will facilitate a tremendous positive economic impact on the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana through the regulation and control of certain areas in order to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of thousands of residents, visitors, dignitaries, and media personnel who will attend events, city reps said.

         The Clean Zone is bounded by Florida Avenue on the north, North Broad Avenue on the east, Esplanade Avenue on the south, and Bayou St. John on the west (excluding the portion of that area contained within the exterior boundaries of the New Orleans Fair Grounds Racetrack). The Clean Zone is in effect beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28, and ending at 12 a.m. on Monday, May 1. The Clean Zone will go into effect again at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, and ending at 12 a.m. on Monday, May 8.

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         The City of New Orleans’ One Stop Shop for permits and licenses is open during regular business hours, Monday–Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information call (504) 658-7100.

 

GETTING TO JAZZ FEST

         The Fair Grounds Race Course is located at 1751 Gentilly Blvd. in a residential part of the city offering restricted parking in surrounding neighborhoods. Festival-goers that are driving to the Fair Grounds are encouraged to bicycle or carpool whenever possible, park in downtown long-term lots and use the shuttle system festival organizers have arranged or to take public transportation.

         Additionally, because the Wisner Boulevard Bridge Overpass is closed to the public for construction, festival goers should seek alternate routes when traveling to and from the festival.

 

Bicycling

         Festival attendees planning on riding bicycles to the Fair Grounds are encouraged to utilize the city’s designated bikeways. View a map of the city’s bikeway network here.

         Bicycle parking is available by the Gentilly Pedestrian Entrance at the corner of Gentilly Boulevard and Sauvage Street. View a map of Jazz Fest here.

 

Jazz Fest Express Shuttle Service

         Each day of Jazz Fest, Gray Line Tours will operate continuous, round-trip transportation – the Jazz Fest Express – from the Sheraton Hotel, the Gray Line Lighthouse at the Steamboat Natchez Dock (Toulouse Street at the River – next to Jax Brewery) and Wisner Boulevard Lot (5700 Wisner Blvd.) near the intersection of Wisner Boulevard and Filmore Boulevard from 10:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

         A special entrance will be used only by Jazz Fest Express vehicles to avoid traffic and bring festival-goers inside the gates of the festival.

         For more information

         Or call (504) 569-1401 or 1-800-535-7786.

 

Taxi and Pedicab Stands

         Taxi cab stands are located at the Stallings Playground at the corner of Gentilly Boulevard and Lapeyrouse Street, and Fortier Park at the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street.

         A pedicab stand is located at Esplanade Avenue and Mystery Street across from the taxi cab stand.

 

Transportation Network Companies

         The city anticipates a high volume of ride requests for Transportation Network Companies (TNC) and TNC for-hire vehicles, such as uberX and Lyft, during the festival. In an effort to minimize interruption to Uber and Lyft service and reduce passenger inconvenience, TNC’s will direct passengers and drivers to meet at a location outside of the restricted traffic zones.

 

RTA

         RTA offers bus and streetcar service to stops within walking distance of the Fair Grounds. For more information.

 

JAZZ FEST PARKING ENFORCEMENT

         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 reminded to park in the direction of travel on one-way streets, and with the right wheel to the curb on two-way streets. Motorists are highly encouraged to pay close attention to all posted signage to avoid being ticketed or towed.

         The city’s Parking Control Officers will be actively enforcing the following safety violations:

 

• Blocking a fire hydrant ($40 fine)

• Parking in a fire lane ($40 fine)

• Parking within 15 ft. of a fire hydrant on either side ($40 fine)

• Parking within 20 ft. 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 ft. of a driveway on either side ($40 fine)

• Parking on the neutral ground ($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 with unpaid parking tickets will be booted and/ or towed

 

         For more information on parking

 

         Or call:

 

• Department of Public Works (Parking enforcement and information), (504) 658-8100 (answered 24 hours)

• Information related to Residential Parking Permits, (504) 658-8200

• Pay and release of boot, (504) 599-5652

• Information on Ticket/ Tow appeals hearings: (504) 658-8250

 

         Towed vehicles may be retrieved at the N. Claiborne Avenue Auto Impound Lot, 400 N. Claiborne Ave. The Auto Impound Lot is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.

 

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