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Festival Causes Higher Levels of Traffic in Downtown Syracuse Local Festival Causes Several Road Closures

By Margaret Haggerty

MAGGY HAGGERTY: Thanks Charlie. The crowds at Taste of Syracuse are bumping as I mentioned earlier. And with that there’s minimal parking spaces surrounding the area and because of that is the road closures. Barriers and road closed signs are visible all over Clinton Square. The street closures are for Taste of Syracuse which is a weekend long event running from eleven AM to eleven P-M. Several parking spots in the area are no longer available due to the set-up that consists of tents…food trucks…and stages. Police were there to control the driving traffic surrounding the closed streets as some drivers were still unsure on how to adjust their route downtown. A vendor who has had a street corner spot for years at the festival says that the traffic has been consistent so far with most people avoiding the drive.

VENDOR: You see all kinds of people- bikes, motor scooters that they have now, but generally it’s walking.

HAGGERTY: The amount of people showing up have been no problem for the vendors.

VENDOR: I’d say it’s what I expected, I’ve been doing this for years. It’s been pretty steady.

HAGGERTY: Franklin Square is such a busy area that when I spoke to a traffic ambassador from Centro earlier today…he said the area was going to be crazy. Several buses have had to take alternate routes to avoid the traffic that is caused by the event. All Centro buses will be avoiding the area and heading straight for the highway. Harold place is one of the only stops that will be made near Franklin Square. The Camillus-Auburn… Baldwinsville-Henry Clay Boulevard… North Syracuse-Central Square… and Destiny U-S-A are the top routes affected by Taste of Syracuse. With public transportation not ready for festival goers, it is recommended that people use alternative modes of transportation for example, Veo scooters.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Several roads are closed in downtown Syracuse due to Taste of Syracuse taking over the Clinton Square area. Roads are expected to be closed for the weekend.

One driver this morning was on her way to work and had to ask Syracuse police officers how to get to the building due to the detour on North Franklin Street. The driver was directed to go around and park further away from their normal parking spot.

Streets with restricted areas today are:

  • Clinton Street
  • Franklin Street
  • Erie Boulevard West
  • Washington Street
  • West Street Arterial
  • West Water Street

Many of them are closed off for vendor tents, food trucks, and three stages that are set up for live music.

One of the most common modes of transportation for the event is walking.

“You see all kinds of people,” said one of the Taste of Syracuse vendors. “Bikes, motor scooters that they have now, but generally it’s walking.”

Other people at the event said they walked over during their lunch break from work.

However, not only are the road closures affecting those going to the event or driving through downtown, but also those who use public transportation.

Downtown Centro buses are using alternate routes in order to avoid the Franklin Square area. Some of the main routes affected are Camillus-Auburn, Baldwinsville-Henry Clay Boulevard, North Syracuse-Central Square, and Destiny USA.

One of the closest stops to the event is at Harold Place.

If you are attending the event and are worried about traffic, alternate modes of transportation like Veo scooters are available in the area.

Taste of Syracuse runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 3 and June 4.

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