This is a news release from the Department of Homeland Security:
Law Enforcement and Public Safety Agencies Announce Security Restrictions and Transportation Plan for the 2012 Republican National Convention
Tampa Parking Restrictions and Road Closures
Beginning Monday, August 27 at 12:30 a.m., Florida 618 Toll (Selmon Expressway) between Willow Avenue and 50th Street will be closed, and will remain closed until Friday, August 31 at approximately 5:00 a.m. The Selmon Reversible Elevated Lanes (REL) will remain OPEN during this time to enter downtown Tampa and will operate as normal.
Street parking will be prohibited beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, August 24, until 5 a.m., Friday, August 31, in the following areas in downtown Tampa, as well at the streets identified below as road closures:
• South of East Whiting Street between South Ashley Drive to South Jefferson Avenue to Old Waters Street and between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard
• Tampa Street from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street
• North Jefferson Street from East Cass Street to East Whiting Street
• Florida Avenue from East Scott Street to East Whiting Street
• East Tyler Street from North Orange Avenue to MacInness Place
• Cass Street from North Boulevard to Nebraska Avenue
Additional parking restrictions may be announced. For additional information, please visit the City of Tampa’s website at http://tampagov.net/RNC for the most current information.
Road closures will be implemented beginning at noon, Saturday, August 25 until 6 p.m., Friday, August 31. On-street parking is prohibited on the following closed roads:
• South Ashley Drive: Southbound from Jackson Street to East Whiting Street
• South Tampa Street: Southbound from south of East Whiting Street to East Brorein Street
• South Franklin Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters Street
• South Florida Avenue: Northbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters Street
• South Morgan Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to Old Waters Street
• South Jefferson Street: North and southbound from south of East Whiting Street to
Channelside Drive
• South Nebraska Avenue: North and southbound from south of Finley Street to Channelside Drive
• South Caesar Street: North and southbound from south of Finley Street to Channelside Drive
• East Cumberland and East Bell Streets: East and westbound between S. Florida Avenue to South Morgan Street and South Jefferson Street
• East Walton Street: East and westbound between South Nebraska Avenue to South Caesar Street
• Eunice Street: East and westbound between South Morgan Street to Nebraska Avenue
• East Brorein Street: Westbound between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard
• Channelside Drive: East and westbound between South Meridian Avenue to Bayshore
Boulevard, to include the Platt Street Bridge
• Old Water Street: East and westbound between South Franklin Street to Channelside Drive
• South Franklin Street / Harbour Island Bridge: North and southbound between Old Waters Street to Westin Hotel Circle Drive
• Bayshore Boulevard: Northbound between West Swann Avenue to West Platt Street. The Davis Island northbound ramp from Bayshore will be open.
• Tampa Bay Boulevard (Tom McEwen Boulevard): East and westbound between North Dale Mabry Highway to North Himes Avenue will be closed from 8 a.m., Saturday, August 25, to 8 a.m., Friday, August 31
The City of Tampa has identified streets that will be part of the official parade route and viewing area and will be closed to general traffic. For more information on these areas, please visit the city’s website at http://tampagov.net/RNC.
New Traffic Patterns
In Tampa, the following roads will be open for traffic with new traffic patterns from 7 p.m., Friday, August 24 until 5 a.m., Friday, August 31:
• Whiting Street will be one-way (eastbound only) from Tampa Street to Florida Avenue
• Ashley Street will be one-way (northbound only) between Whiting Street and Jackson Street
• Channelside Drive, westbound only from Cumberland Avenue to Meridian Street/Beneficial Drive
• 12th Street, southbound only from Cumberland Avenue to Channelside Drive
St. Petersburg Parking Restrictions and Road Closures
In St. Petersburg, parking restrictions will be implemented beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, August 23, 2012. The following areas will have parking restrictions in place until 2 a.m., Friday, August 31:
• North and south sides of 5th Avenue Northeast, between Beach Drive Northeast and the Vinoy Hotel Garage
• East and west sides of Bayshore Boulevard Northeast from 5th Avenue Northeast south to the first pedestrian crosswalk
• East and west sides of Beach Drive Northeast between 6th Avenue Northeast and 7th Avenue Northeast
• North and south sides of 7th Avenue Northeast between Beach Drive Northeast and North Shore Drive Northeast
• North side of 4th Avenue South between 1st Street and 2nd Street
• East and west sides of 1st Street South between Al Lang Field entrance (100 block) and 4th Avenue South
• East side of 2nd Street South between 2nd Avenue South and 4th Avenue South
• East and west sides of 4th Street North between 3rd Avenue North and 4th Avenue N.
• South side of 3rd Avenue North from 4th Street west to the property line of Courtyard St. Petersburg Hotel
• North and south sides of Delmar Terrace South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
Parking on the following streets will be restricted beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, August 24, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North
• East and west sides of 5th Street North between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North
• North and south sides of 2nd Avenue North between Mirror Lake Drive and Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Street
• East and west sides of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street between Burlington Avenue North
and 5th Avenue South
• North and south sides of 3rd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street
• North and south sides of 4th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street
• North and south sides of 5th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street
• North and south sides of Stadium Drive between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street
• North and south sides of 7th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street
• North and south sides of 1st Avenue North between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.Street
• North and south sides of 1st Avenue North between 11th Street and 16th Street
• North and south sides of 2nd Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street
• North and south sides of Baum Avenue North from 13th Street east to the property located at 1210 1st Avenue North
• North and south sides of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street
• North and south sides of the Alley north of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 14th Street
• North and south sides of 1st Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street
• North and south sides of 2nd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street
• North and south sides of the Alley north of 2nd Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
• East and west sides of 10th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South
• East and west sides of 13th Street North between 1st Avenue South and 2nd Avenue North
• East and west sides of 14th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue
North
• North side of Central Avenue between 13th Street and the railroad tracks to the west (1400 block)
• East and west sides of 20th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 5th Avenue North
• East and west sides of 19th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 1st Avenue South
• North and south sides of 3rd Avenue South between 16th Street and 20th Street
• East and west sides of 17th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 3rd Avenue South
• East and west sides of 10th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• East and west sides of 12th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• East and west sides of 14th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• North and south sides of 6th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
• North and south sides of Blackburn Court South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• 1st Avenue North between 11th Street and 16th Street
• 2nd Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street
• 4th Avenue South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
• Baum Avenue North from 13th Street east to the property located at 1210 1st Avenue North
• Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 14th Street
• Alley north of Arlington Avenue North between 13th Street and 16th Street
• 13th Street North between 1st Avenue South and Arlington Avenue North
• 13th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North (southbound lane only)
• 14th Street North between Arlington Avenue North and 2nd Avenue North
• Delmar Terrace South between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
The following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 4:30 a.m., Sunday, August 26, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• All sides of Mirror Lake Drive North
• 5th Street North, between 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North
• 2nd Avenue North between Mirror Lake Drive and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street between Burlington Avenue North and 5th Avenue South
• 1st Avenue North between 8th Street and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
• 1st Avenue South between 8th Street and 18th Street
• 2nd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street
• Alley north of 2nd Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
• 3rd Avenue South between 8th Street and 10th Street
• 3rd Avenue South between 16th Street and 19th Street
• 4th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 19th Street
• 5th Avenue South between 8th Street and 20th Street
• Stadium Drive between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street
• 7th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 16th Street (westbound lane closure only)
• 10th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South
• 16th Street South between Central Avenue and 5th Avenue South
• 16th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 7th Avenue South (northbound curb lane only)
• 19th Street South between 5th Avenue South and 1st Avenue South
• 17th Street South between 1st Avenue South and 3rd Avenue South
• 10th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• 12th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• 14th Street South between 7th Avenue South and 5th Avenue South
• 6th Avenue South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
• Blackburn Court South between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street and 10th Street
The following road will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday, August 26, until 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• Bayshore Drive Southeast/Dali Boulevard between 1st Avenue Southeast and 1st Street South
I-175/South Bay Drive: Interstate 175/South Bay Drive, including all entrance and exits ramps and pedestrian overpass will be closed on Sunday, August 26, from 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Pedestrian Restrictions
In St. Petersburg, the Tropicana Field pedestrian underpass between Central Avenue and Tropicana Field will be closed from 6 a.m., Friday, August 24, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27.
The Pinellas Trail, between 20th Street and 10th Street, will be closed to both pedestrians and vehicles from 6 a.m., Friday, August 24, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27.
The following areas will be closed to general public pedestrian access from 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, 2012, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue North, from 16th Street to 13th Street
• 16th Street to13th Street, from 2nd Avenue North to 1st Avenue North
• 1st Avenue North to Baum Avenue North, from 13th Street to east to the property located at 1210 1st Avenue North
• 13th Street North to the CSX Railroad Easement from 1st Avenue North to Central Avenue
• North sidewalk of Central Avenue from 13th Street to the CSX Railroad Easement
The following areas will be closed to general public pedestrian access from 4:30 a.m., Sunday, August 26, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• 1st Avenue South to 4th Avenue South from 16th Street to 10th Street
• 17th Street to 10th Street from 1st Avenue South to 3rd Avenue South
• 3rd Avenue South to 4th Avenue South from 10th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
• 10th Street South to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street from 3rd Avenue South to 4th Avenue South
• 4th Avenue South to 5th Avenue South from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street to 8th Street South
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street to 8th Street South from 4th Avenue South to 5th Avenue South
• 5th Avenue South to 7th Avenue South from 16th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
• 16th Street to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street from 5th Avenue South to 7th Avenue South
• 3rd Avenue South to 5th Avenue South from 19th Street to 16th Street
• 19th Street South to 16th Street from 3rd Avenue South to 5th Avenue South
In Tampa, pedestrian restrictions will be implemented beginning at noon, Saturday, August 25 until 6 a.m., Friday, August 31, at the following locations:
• South of the north sidewalk of East Brorein Street from Bayshore Boulevard to Meridian Avenue
• West of Beneficial Drive from Channelside Drive across the bridge onto Harbour Island
• Harbour Island Boulevard north of the Channelside Walkway
• Little Bayshore Boulevard from East Brorein Street to Platt Street/Channelside Drive
including both the Brorein Street Bridge and the Platt Street Bridge
Parking Garages
In Tampa, The following parking garage/lots will have limited access only beginning at noon, Saturday, August 25 through 6 a.m., Friday, August 31:
• Whiting St. Parking Garage: Limited Access only, expect significant delays
• Fort Brook Parking Garage: North of Whiting Street - Open; South of Whiting Street -
Open with Limited time specific access:
• South Regional Parking Garage and Tampa Convention Center Parking Garage: Alternative parking available in Fort Brooke garage
In St. Petersburg, the following parking garages/lots will close Saturday, August 25, (90 minutes after then end of the Tampa Bay Rays game) through 7 a.m., Monday, August 27:
• City of St. Petersburg’s “800 Lot” at 800 1st Avenue South
• Tropicana Field - Fans attending the Tampa Bay Rays game on Saturday, August 25 will be required to remove their vehicles from Tropicana Field property no later than 90 minutes beyond the official end of the game. Any vehicle left parked after then will be towed at theowner’s expense.
Park Closure
In St. Petersburg, Campbell Park Recreation Center, 601 14th Street South, and all associated fields, sidewalks, buildings, and park property and the E.H. McLin Pool, 602 14th Street South will be CLOSED from 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27.
Access to Harbour Island, Tampa General Hospital, St. Petersburg Police & Fire
Access to Harbour Island will be available only via the Beneficial Bridge. Expect delayed access during convention hours. All vehicles may be subject to security screening.
Access to Tampa General Hospital will be available via several routes. Please visit the City of Tampa website at http://tampagov.net/RNC for a map of suggested detours.
The St. Petersburg Police Department Headquarters building, 1300 1st Avenue North will temporarily close to the public from 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27. A temporary off-site location will be established for the public to make a police report of an incident. Visit the St. Petersburg Police Department website for further information at http://www.stpete.org/police.
The St. Petersburg Fire Headquarters building, 400 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street South, and the St. Petersburg Fire Station #1 & #5, 455 8th Street South, will temporarily close to the public from 5 p.m., Saturday, August 25, through 6 a.m., Monday, August 27.
Airspace Restrictions
An interagency airspace security plan will be implemented to provide secure airspace over the Tampa area during the 2012 Republican National Convention. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight advisory listing enhanced restrictions will be released approximately 30 days prior to the event.
See http://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/notices_public.aspx for a copy of the advisory. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) with additional details will be published at a later date.
General information on the temporary flight restrictions (TFR) are outlined below.
Pilots are strongly encouraged to check NOTAMs frequently for possible changes prior to operations in the area or contact a Flight Service Station at 1-800-992-7433 to check for all current NOTAMs.
Pilots may also contact FAA Systems Operations Support Center (SOSC) at 202-267-8276 or through the FAA’s website http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.
Outline of Temporary Flight Restrictions
On Sunday, August 26, the TFR is centered on Tropicana Field and includes:
• 10 nautical mile inner ring – only aircraft screened by TSA approved program (commercial) or general aviation screened at a gateway airport identified in the NOTAM. Aircraft flying in support of the National Special Security Event or on a law enforcement mission are authorized.
• 30 nautical mile outer ring- aircraft must file flight plan, follow flight plan, squawk discreet
beacon code and maintain two-way radio communications with air traffic control
• Please refer to the NOTAM for the hours the TFR will be in place
From August 27 to August 30, the TFR is centered on the Tampa Times Forum:
• 10 nautical mile inner ring – only aircraft screened by TSA approved program (commercial) or general aviation screened at a gateway airport identified in the NOTAM. Aircraft flying in support of the National Special Security Event or on a law enforcement mission are authorized.
• 30 nautical mile outer ring- aircraft must file flight plan, follow flight plan, squawk discreet beacon code and maintain two-way radio communications with air traffic control
• Please refer to the NOTAM for the hours the TFR will be in place
Marina/Waterway Restrictions
The U.S. Coast Guard will establish a Federal Security Zone on the water near the Tampa
Convention Center and the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The security zone will be in effect throughout the duration of the 2012 Republican National Convention. A map of the security zone is attached.
The security zone will begin south of Harbour Island between Davis Islands and Hooker’s Point. On the east side, the security zone will run as far north as Ybor Channel (near the dry docks). On the west side, the security zone will run through Seddon Channel north to Kennedy Blvd.
The United States Coast Guard urges boaters to review the scheduled waterways restrictions and closures for August 25 to August 31. Specific details of the security zone are available online at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/07/16/2012-17086/security-zones-2012-republicannational-convention-captain-of-the-port-st-petersburg-zone-tampa-fl.
Exclusion Zone – Garrison Channel
Garrison Channel will be located within an exclusion zone. The exclusion zone will run along the northern edge of Harbour Island from Jackson’s Bistro on the northwest corner east to the Beneficial Bridge. No vessel movements will be permitted in this area while the security zone is in effect.
Vessels moored within this exclusion zone, and those who wish to access them will be subject to inspection. If you plan to use your vessel while the security zone is in effect, you must relocate your vessel prior to noon on August 25. Additionally, tying up at the Tampa Convention Center is expressly forbidden from 12 p.m. on August 25, through 12:01 a.m. on August 31.
Recreational boating traffic is not permitted at any time within Sparkman Channel, Ybor Channel, and the Ybor Turning Basin.
Seddon Channel / Hillsborough River
When the waterways are open to recreational traffic, the following restrictions will be in place:
• Recreational boaters and their vessels will be screened at established stations before access is allowed through the Federal Security Zone
• You must be screened if you wish to enter the security zone – no exceptions
• Weapons of any kind are prohibited within the security zone
• Your vessel may be searched by trained canines
• Your vessel will be escorted along a course edged by barriers
• Proceed at a safe speed through posted "no wake" zones to ensure the smooth flow of vessel traffic. No stopping, anchoring, mooring or loitering will be permitted within the security zone.
• Screening of persons and vessels will take time. Plan for delays.
Waterways located within the Federal Security Zones will be closed to recreational boaters during the following hours:
• Monday, August 27: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. AND 5 p.m. – midnight
• Tuesday, August 28: 5 p.m. – midnight
• Wednesday, August 29: 5 p.m. – midnight
• Thursday, August 30: 5 p.m. – 12:01 a.m.
For any additional questions regarding waterways during the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, you may send an email to RNCWaterways@uscg.mil or call 727-265-5353.
Public Transit
Due to RNC event operations, there will be some impact on bus service and routes in the downtown Tampa area. For information on these modifications and schedule changes, visit the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit website at http://www.gohart.org.
The TECO Line Streetcar System will only provide service between Station 1 (Centennial Park Station at 8th Avenue and 20th Street) to Station 8 (Tampa Tribune Station at Channelside Drive and Meridian Avenue) during the RNC. Stations 9, 10 and 11 will be closed. For further information and details, visit http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org.
For information on Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) schedules, see
http://www.psta.net/busschedules.php. For PSTA detours and stop closings, see the Rider Alert page at http://psta.net/RiderAlert.htm.
Online Information
The cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg will use several online resources for communicating useful information on street closures, traffic disruptions and more.
For Tampa, visit http://tampagov.net/RNC for information on city services during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Individuals may also sign up for Alert Tampa through the city’s website to receive message alerts via text message or voicemail related to extreme weather alerts, traffic disruptions, health alerts and major incidents. The free subscription can be completed in a matter of minutes by visiting http://tampagov.net/alerttampa. This is a free service, though text
message rates may apply based on the cell phone provider.
Information and updates for the 2012 Republic National Convention will be available online through the following websites:
• City of Tampa RNC page – http://tampagov.net/RNC
• City of St. Petersburg - http://www.stpete.org
• Republican National Convention Committee – http://www.gopconvention2012.com
• Tampa Police Department – http://www.tampagov.net/dept_police/
• St. Petersburg Police Department - http://www.stpete.org/police
• Federal Aviation Administration flight restrictions – http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
• U.S. Coast Guard restrictions -https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/07/16/2012-
17086/security-zones-2012-republican-national-convention-captain-of-the-port-st-petersburgzone-tampa-fl
• U.S. Secret Service – http://www.secretservice.gov
Additions or updates to this plan may be made prior to the start of the event.
