Ultra Might Ban Ubers As Transportation Concerns Mount with Fast-Approaching Festival

From the primary time that Virginia Key was named the alternative venue for Ultra Music Festival, after being faraway from Bayfront Park, transportation has been one its predominant points. Ultra revealed shuttle and ferry choices earlier this 12 months, however journey share choices remained scant.


Following a assembly this week on the metropolis’s downtown administrative headquarters, the Miami Herald has revealed a report stating that Ultra may dispose of journey shares altogether this 12 months.

According to Ray Martinez, Ultra’s spokesman and safety chief, Ultra has secured over 200 shuttles (the precise quantity remains to be being decided) to move attendees from any three shuttle stops within the metropolis Miami: the outdated Miami Herald web site close to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, AmericanAirlines Arena and Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Each bus can carry 55 passengers, permitting for roughly 11,000 attendees to be moved at most capability at anybody time.

Ferries may also be out there for buy (shuttles are free).

The problem, nevertheless, isn’t getting attendees to the pageant — it’s getting them out. Attendees are anticipated to return to the pageant at a gentle fee all through the day. “But the tip the night time will create a brand new dynamic for Ultra,” writes the Herald, as as much as 60,000 folks depart every night time.

“Uber’s primary concern is the protection our driver-partners and riders,” stated Javi Correoso, Uber spokesman. “The occasion’s location poses important logistical challenges, which is why we've got flagged considerations and made suggestions to ascertain a transportation plan that prioritizes security and effectivity.”

“We don't know whether or not it’s going to be one individual utilizing a rideshare firm or 500,” stated Key Biscayne Police Chief Charles Press. “Every automotive lowered from the causeway will assist mitigate the site visitors points coming from the pageant.”

No parking can be made out there to normal admission attendees, and “on-site parking will solely be fered to employees, attendees requiring particular lodging, distributors and to a restricted quantity VIP ticket holders,” says Martinez.

Writes the Herald, “Karla Damian, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Department Transportation and Public Works division, informed the Herald that Ultra submitted a site visitors plan in February that's nonetheless pending approval from a number of authorities departments. County directors nonetheless want schematics displaying pedestrian walkways and fencing alongside the causeway’s median.”

 

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