City prepares for Austin City Limits Music Festival

For immediate release
September 13, 2011

Austin residents should prepare for the 2011 Austin City Limits Music Festival, as it will affect traffic and City facilities. The three-day music festival runs Friday, Sept. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 18, at Zilker Park.

The northern portion of Zilker Park, commonly known as the Zilker Great Lawn, is temporarily closed for the staging of the festival. This area is north of Barton Springs Road and east of Stratford Drive. It is scheduled to open again Sept. 23, but until then patrons are encouraged to use the south areas of Zilker Park or the other 200 parks in the Austin Parks and Recreation system.

During the festival, Sept. 16 through Sept. 18, the entire Zilker Park and the Zilker Botanical Gardens will be closed to the public. Barton Springs Pool will remain open throughout this period with access to the pool from the Robert E. Lee Drive parking lot on the south side of the pool. Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility to the pool will be through the west side of the park at the Andrew Zilker Road entrance off the MoPac/Loop 1 access road with a valid parking tag.

Due to the closure, motorists should expect delays around the Zilker Park/Barton Springs Road area and throughout downtown.

Shuttle bus area
Shuttle buses will be in operation for the duration of the festival. Street closures in this area will be from 9 a.m. Sept. 16 and midnight Sept. 18.

  • San Antonio from West Third to West Fourth streets
  • West Fourth from Guadalupe to Nueces streets
  • West Fifth Street (south curb lane closed)
  • Nueces Street (northbound traffic closed)

Festival area
In the immediate area of the festival, full closures will take place beginning midnight Sept. 16 through midnight Sept. 18.

  • Barton Springs Road from Robert E. Lee to Rollingwood Drive
  • Stratford Drive from Barton Springs Road to Nature Center Trail
  • Barton Springs Road/Lou Neff to Stratford Drive (westbound right lane)

Drivers are recommended, in both directions, to use MoPac to Cesar Chavez Street to Lamar Boulevard as alternate routes.

Equipment load-out
Equipment load-out will take place between midnight Sept. 18 and noon Sept. 19.

  • Stratford Drive from Barton Springs Road at Lou Neff Road to Nature Center Trail (complete closure)
  • Barton Springs Road at Lou Neff to Stratford Drive (right lane westbound closed)

To view a complete list of closures: www.austintexas.gov/specialevents/downloads/acl_closure_072811.pdf

To view maps of closures: www.austintexas.gov/specialevents/maps.htm

Festival goers are reminded that there is no parking available at the festival site. They are encouraged to bike, walk or take a bus to the park. The official ACL website lists several parking/transportation options at www.aclfestival.com/plan/getting-here/.

Capital Metro is also providing free shuttle bus service from Republic Square Park at the intersection of Fourth and Guadalupe streets. Attendees will be dropped off at the festival entrance on Barton Springs Road. The shuttles begin at Republic Square Park at 10 a.m. and make their final return from the park at 11 p.m. each day of the festival.

In an effort to protect the safety and quality of life of Austin residents, the Public Assembly Code Enforcement (PACE) team will be checking that all vendors, merchants and property owners are in compliance with municipal safety codes, including having the required permits during the festival.

PACE will canvass the routes leading to Zilker Park this week and throughout the event. Those found operating without proper permits will be required to close down their operation for the remainder of the event.

Visit the City of Austin’s website at www.austintexas.gov/pace to see the checklist of public gathering requirements. The site includes information about which permits may be needed and telephone numbers for more information.

Because public assembly codes touch on a variety of areas, the PACE team is comprised of representatives from several City departments including Code Compliance, Fire, Health and Human Services, Planning and Development Review and Transportation’s Right of Way Management Division. Other agencies involved include the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Contact:

  • Leah Fillion, Transportation Department, (512) 974-7923
  • Victor Ovalle, Parks and Recreation Department, (512) 974-6745
  • Melissa Martinez, Code Compliance Department, (512) 974-1973
  • Pat Lowe, Austin City Limits event contact, (512) 507-6004, plowe@ureach.com, www.aclfestival.com
  • Sandee Fenton, Austin City Limits media contact, (310) 313-7200, sandee@freshcleanmedia.com
  • Mosettee Lorenz, Communications and Public Information Office, (512) 974-2220