Traffic Advisory

Traffic Modifications and Commercial Vehicle Restrictions for Baltimore’s  New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor

Baltimore, Md. (December 29, 2014)—The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists of the traffic modifications and commercial vehicle restrictions which will be implemented for Baltimore’s New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Inner Harbor. 

Temporary commercial vehicle restrictions will be in effect from 2:00 p.m. on December 31, 2014 until 2:00 a.m. on January 1, 2015.  During this time, commercial vehicles will not be permitted in the downtown / Inner Harbor areas of the city, except for local deliveries.  Please note that tanker trailers will not be permitted downtown during this time, including those for local deliveries.  This commercial vehicle restriction excludes cabs, buses and other mass transportation vehicles.

Motorists should pay strict attention to the restrictions and road/lane closures in effect.  Commercial vehicle restrictions, along with all parking restrictions will be strictly enforced. 

The following streets will be affected by the temporary commercial vehicle restrictions:

• Fayette Street from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) to President Street (no commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel on or south of Fayette Street)
• President Street from Aliceanna to Fayette Streets (no commercial vehicles will be allowed to travel on or west of President Street)
• Light Street from Pratt Street to Key Highway
• Key Highway from Light to McComas Streets
• Hanover Street from McComas to Montgomery Streets (no commercial vehicles will be allowed on or north of McComas Street, including Hanover Street)
• Pratt and Lombard Streets from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to President  Street
• I-395 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. split to Pratt Street (no commercial vehicles will be permitted on I-395)

The following streets will be closed from 11:00 p.m. December 31, 2014 until event ending:

• Pratt Street will be closed at Charles Street. Pratt Street traffic will be diverted onto northbound Charles Street to continue east on Baltimore Street.
• Lombard Street will be closed at President Street. Westbound Lombard Street traffic will be diverted north at President Street to continue west on Fayette Street.
• Northbound I-395 traffic at Conway Street will be detoured north on Howard Street. No access will be allowed onto eastbound Conway Street.
• Southbound Light Street at Lombard Street. Southbound Light Street traffic will be diverted onto Lombard Street to continue south on Sharp Street.
• Northbound Light Street at Lee Street. Northbound Light Street traffic will be diverted onto Lee Street to continue north on Charles Street.

The following lane closures will be designated for emergency vehicle use only from 7:00 p.m. December 31, 2014 until event ending:

• South side of Pratt Street from Greene to President Streets
• North side of Lombard Street from President to Greene Streets
• West side of Charles Street from Conway to Fayette Streets
• West side of Light Street from Fayette to Conway Streets

The following parking restrictions will be in effect from 6:00 p.m. December 31, 2014 until 3:00 a.m. January 1, 2015:

• Gay Street from Pratt to Fayette Streets
• Calvert Street from Pratt to Fayette Streets
• Baltimore Street from Charles to Gay Streets
• South side of Key Highway from Light to William Streets
• All designated emergency vehicle lanes

Due to the large number of people expected in the downtown area for new year’s festivities, patrons attending the events are strongly encouraged to use public transportation including mass transit, the Light Rail and the Charm City Circulator. During the event, the Charm City Circulator will operate with extended hours until 1:00 a.m.

Patrons who wish to drive downtown should park at commercial parking facilities and avoid area neighborhoods.  The Department of Transportation will have Traffic Enforcement Officers (TEO’S) in place to facilitate the movement of traffic.  Motorists should exercise patience and be on the watch for pedestrians while driving in the downtown district, especially when approaching area crosswalks.