Traffic Modifications for the Baltimore Running Festival

Tuesday Oct 17th, 2017

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation would like to advise motorists of the temporary road closures and parking restrictions in effect for the 17th annual Baltimore Running Festival, which will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017.  Approximately 25,000 people are expected to participate in this year’s event.

The 26.2 mile marathon will begin at Camden and Paca Streets.  In conjunction with the marathon, the Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield Half-Marathon will also be held along with the ShopRite 5K Race, the Team Relay and Kids Fun Run. 

The races will begin at various times and locations:

7:30 a.m. – ShopRite 5k begins at Light & Pratt Streets

7:55 a.m. – Wheelchair Division begins at Light & Pratt Streets

8:00 a.m. – Marathon and Team relay begin at Camden & Paca Streets

9:20 and 9:30 a.m. – Kids Fun Run begins at Rash Field

9:45 a.m. – Carefirst Half Marathon begins at Light & Pratt Streets

In preparation for the running festival, various parking restrictions, road closures and lane closures will be implemented along the race routes.  Motorists should be advised that traveling from inside the footprint of the race to destinations beyond the race borders (and vice versa) will be difficult throughout the day.  Traffic stops WILL be implemented for the safety of participants and motorists will encounter significant delays

Citizens should be aware that modifications to the race routes have been made for this year’s event.  The marathon will now end at McKeldin Square at the Inner Harbor, so this year’s course will be slightly different than in previous years.

Citizens are encouraged to plan ahead and allow additional travel time.  Traffic will be impacted in many city communities, and in order to minimize delays, motorists should use alternate routes outside of the race footprint.  This includes using roadways north of 33rd Street, south of McComas Street, west of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and east of Highland Avenue.

In order to help citizens plan their commutes on race day, an interactive road closure map has been created. Citizens can click on this user-friendly map to see when city neighborhoods will be affected by the races throughout the day. Click here to access that map.

On race day, motorists should pay close attention to posted parking restrictions, as vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed.  Citizens with questions concerning the location of their vehicles should call 311. 

Citizens are strongly encouraged to use public transportation during this event.  The Metro Subway is a great option for citizens traveling into and out of the city, as it will not be affected by the marathon.  The Charm City Circulator will modify its service hours during the event, and will operate on race day from 4:00 p.m. until midnight.  

In preparation for the Baltimore Running Festival, the following parking restrictions will be implemented on Saturday, October 21, 2017:

Linwood Avenue from Eastern Avenue to Fayette Street 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Eastern Avenue (north side) from Linwood to Patterson Park Avenues 12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Boston Street (north side) from Aliceanna Street to Lakewood Avenue  2:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lancaster Street from President to Exeter Streets 4:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

E. 33rd Street from Hillen Road to Guilford Avenue 4:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Maryland/Cathedral/Hopkins/Sharp Street from W. 29th to Pratt Streets  4:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Camden Street from Paca to Howard Streets 6:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Baltimore Street (south side) from President Street to Patterson Park Avenue 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Key Highway from Light to Lawrence Streets 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Fayette Street (south side) from Gay to Calvert Streets 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Hillen Road from E. 33rd Street to Mervo entrance 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The following streets will be closed to through traffic on Saturday, October 21, 2017:

Paca Street from Pratt to Lombard Street 5:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Camden Street from Paca to Howard Streets 6:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Eutaw Street from Pratt to Camden Streets 7:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Russell Street from Lee to Pratt Streets 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Russell Street at Hamburg Street 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Hamburg Street Bridge from Russell to Leadenhall Streets 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Key Highway from Cross to Light Streets 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Light Street from Lombard Street to Key Highway 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Light Street from Hughes Street to Key Highway 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 a.m.

Pratt Street from Hopkins Plaza to Light Street 12:00 a.m. to clear at end of the event late Saturday afternoon

Pratt Street from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to Hopkins Plaza – 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 (until marathon and half marathon clear the area)

Pratt Street from Paca to Light Streets – 1:00 p.m. to clear

Southbound Jones Falls Expressway exit ramp to 28th Street – 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The following streets will be impacted by the marathon on Saturday, October 21, 2017 with lane closures in effect:

Paca Street from Pratt to McCulloh Streets 8:05 a.m. – 8:31 a.m.

McCulloh Street from Paca Street to North Avenue 8:10 a.m. – 8:47 a.m.

McCulloh Street from North Avenue to Gwynns Falls Pkwy  8:15 – 9:03 a.m.

Gwynns Falls Pkwy from Beechwood Drive to Mansion House Drive (in Druid Hill Park)  8:20 a.m. - 9:19 a.m.

Mansion House Drive to Wyman Park Drive  8:25 a.m. to 9:35 a.m.

Wyman Park Drive from Remington Avenue to W. 28th Street 8:30 a.m. – 9:51 a.m.

W. 28th Street from Howard to St. Paul Streets  8:35 a.m. – 10:07 a.m.

St. Paul Street from W. 28th to Light Streets  8:40 a.m. – 10:23 a.m.

Light Street from Pratt Street to Key Highway  8:45 a.m. – 10:39 a.m.

Key Highway from Light Street to Key Highway Extension to Hull Street  8:55 a.m. - 11:11 a.m.

Hull Street to Key Highway Extension to Key Highway to Light Street  9:00 a.m. to 11:27 a.m.

Light Street to Pratt Street to President Street to Lancaster Street  9:05 a.m. to 11:43 a.m.

Aliceanna Street from President to Boston Streets  9:10 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.

Boston Street to Lakewood Avenue to O’Donnell St. to Linwood Avenue  9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Linwood Avenue from O’Donnell Street to Madison Street  9:20 a.m. to 12:31 p.m.

Madison Street from Linwood Avenue to Washington Street to St. Lo Drive  9:25 a.m. to 12:47 p.m.

Harford Road from St. Lo Drive to 30th Street to Hillen Road  9:30 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.

Hillen Road from Lake Montebello to E. 33rd Street to Guilford Avenue  9:20 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Guilford Avenue from E. 33rd to W. 29th Streets  9:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

W. 29th Street from Guilford to Maryland Avenues  9:55 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Maryland/Cathedral/Hopkins/Sharp St from W. 29th to Pratt Streets  10:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

To finish on Pratt Street between Charles and Light Streets  10:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

Note:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Hamburg and Russell Streets will remain open to through traffic in both directions during the marathon.

Commercial Vehicle Restrictions in Downtown Baltimore Will be in Effect on Saturday, October 21, 2017

In addition to road closures and parking restrictions during the event, commercial vehicle restrictions will also be implemented in downtown Baltimore on race day.

On Saturday, October 21, 2017 commercial vehicle restrictions will be in effect from 2:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m.  During this time, commercial vehicles, including tanker trailers, will not be permitted in the downtown / Inner Harbor areas of the city.  This commercial vehicle restriction excludes cabs, buses and other mass transportation vehicles.

Commercial vehicle restrictions will be implemented on the following streets during the date and times listed above:

  • 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)

Motorists are advised to pay close attention to the commercial vehicle restrictions in effect and should use alternate routes during this time.  Commercial vehicle restrictions will be strictly enforced in the downtown area.

Click Map Below For Full GIS Based Baltimore Marathon Web Map

Baltimore Running Festival

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation:

“Keeping Baltimore Moving Safely”

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