As Artscape 2018 takes over several blocks around Maryland Institute College of Art and Penn Station, traffic in the area will be significantly altered through the weekend.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation expects more than 350,000 people to attend the event between Friday, July 20 and Sunday, July 22. The department recommends people use public transit, park and ride facilities, the light rail, and the Charm City Circulator instead of driving.
Parking within the festival area is restricted, with residential permit parking being strictly enforced.
Due to early preparation and set up, the following streets have been closed since Monday, and they will remain so until 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 24.
- Mt. Royal Avenue between W. North Avenue and St. Paul Street
- Cathedral Street between W. Biddle Street and Mt. Royal Avenue
- Dolphin Street between Howard Street and Mt. Royal Avenue
- Preston Street between Cathedral Street and N. Howard Street
- Oliver Street between Maryland Avenue and Mt. Royal Avenue
- Lanvale Street between Mt. Royal Avenue and Rutter Street
- Lafayette Avenue between Mt. Royal Avenue and Rutter Street
- Preston Street between Maryland Avenue and Cathedral Street
- McMechen Street, Malster Street, and Dickinson Street behind MICA Bunting Center and Fox Building
Beginning 10 a.m. Thursday and continuing until 6 a.m. Monday, July 23, the following streets will be closed as well:
- N. Charles Street between W. Preston Street and North Avenue, including the I-83 entrance ramp off of N. Charles Street
- Lanvale Street between Maryland Avenue and Lovegrove Street
- Lafayette Avenue between St. Paul Street and N. Charles Street
As the festival begins Friday, additional streets will be closed from 9 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday:
- Maryland Avenue between North Avenue and Preston Street, including the intersection with Mt. Royal Avenue
- Falls Road between W. Lafayette Avenue and Maryland Avenue
- Southbound ramp for JFX/I-83 from Maryland Avenue
- Two-way traffic will be temporarily permitted on Maryland Avenue from Oliver Street to North Avenue; on W. Lafayette Avenue from Falls Road to Maryland Avenue; and on Park Avenue from Cathedral Street to Symphony Center garage
As the festival and subsequent road closures affect access to Penn Station, a special chute will be created to allow access from Penn Drive to the I-83 ramp. That chute will be open from 12 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, from 12 a.m. Saturday until 9:30 a.m., and from 12 a.m. Sunday until 9:30 a.m.
The Charm City Circulator's Purple Line will run an altered route as well, circumventing the Festival area as it continues up to 33rd Street. Buses will make normal stops on Biddle Street, then turn right on Biddle, left on Calvert Street, left on North Avenue, the right on N. Charles, where they'll proceed as normal.
