City of New Orleans Prepares for a Safe and Celebratory Mardi Gras Season 2019

By: Leonard Lenny Vasbinder

February 12, 2019

NEW ORLEANS — Today, Mayor LaToya Cantrell convened public safety officials and department heads for a tabletop briefing on the preparations underway for Mardi Gras season. Ahead of major parades, City officials, alongside State and Federal partners, are testing response plans, preparing parade routes, and keeping residents informed to ensure the 2019 Carnival season is safe and celebratory.

"I know for a fact that we have the world's greatest experts as it relates to public safety. We are more than prepared for Mardi Gras 2019, and we will continue on this trajectory up until the start and culmination of the Mardi Gras season. As we are prepared, we need our residents and our visitors to be just as prepared as the City of New Orleans," said Mayor Cantrell. 

TESTING PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE PLANS

The City of New Orleans will host a “full-scale” public safety exercise in Armstrong Park and the Treme Center on Friday, Feb. 15 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., simulating a complex, coordinated attack on a parade. Organized by the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, this important drill will help New Orleans public safety agencies — including Police, Fire, and EMS — test emergency response plans in the event of a real incident.

Residents and commuters near Armstrong Park should expect large numbers of public safety personnel, equipment, sirens, and simulated gunfire. This is a test of staff and equipment and will not pose a threat to the public. The New Orleans Fire Department is distributing door hangers to residents in the immediate vicinity. Louis Armstrong Park and the Treme Center will be closed to the public during the exercise, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, all parking lots on the Municipal Auditorium and Mahalia Jackson Theater sites will be closed to the general public on Friday.

KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED

The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will provide public information leading up to and during Mardi Gras events. Tips and resources about transportation, safety, what to bring, and permitting are outlined online at ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras. Real-time updates related to weather, safety, traffic, and parade delays will be provided on Twitter @nolaready and via text message. Residents and visitors are encouraged to text MARDIGRAS to 888777 to subscribe to text updates. This year, the City is also launching routewise.nola.gov, which displays parade routes and tracks the beginning and end of each parade in real time.

PREPARING PARADE ROUTES

Neutral Grounds and Sidewalks

Recent construction on St. Charles Ave. has been completed. Residents are encouraged to careful, because curbs are slightly taller than they used to be.

The Department of Parks and Parkways has trimmed over 600 trees along parade routes and will keep the neutral grounds clear throughout the season. Residents are reminded not to rope off areas of the neutral ground, public sidewalks, or other public property, which is prohibited by law. Additionally, residents should not leave ladders, tents, grills, or any other item on the neutral ground or along curbs and sidewalks overnight. Anything left will be disposed of. For more information on what to bring and what not to bring to parades, visit http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/#tents.

Trash & Recycling

In 2018, 46 tons of Mardi Gras beads were cleaned out of the city's storm drains. This year, the Department of Public Works will install "gutter buddies" — barriers that block solid objects from entering drains — along the Uptown and Endymion parade routes. Residents and visitors are also encouraged to do their part to keep trash off of the streets and out of the drainage system. Tips include cleaning up your area before you leave, depositing trash in public receptacles, or carrying your trash with you to dispose of later. Additionally, the Young Leadership Council will again host its recycling initiative during three parades this year: Krewe Du Vieux (Feb. 16), Krewe of Freret (Feb. 23), and Krewe of Tucks (Mar. 2). For more information, visit http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/#trash. Department of Sanitation crews will follow parades each day to clean routes. Parade goers are urged to stay clear of sanitation crews and their heavy equipment.

First Aid & Lost Children

First aid stations are staffed by the New Orleans Health Department and the Medical Reserve Corps. Parade goers are encouraged to go to a first aid station if in need of medical assistance. However, always call 9-1-1 during a medical emergency. On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse.

• St. Charles Ave. & Napoleon Ave.
• St. Charles Ave. & Washington Ave.
• St. Charles Ave. & Felicity St.
• St. Charles Ave. in the circle
• St. Charles Ave. & Canal St.
• Orleans Ave. & N. Hennessey St. (on Mar. 2 for Endymion only)
• N. Carrollton Ave. & Bienville St. (on Mar. 2 for Endymion only)

Lost children stations are staffed by the New Orleans Police Department. Because most families are quickly reunited near the area they were separated, residents are encouraged to tell the nearest public safety official if a child is lost. On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse.

• St. Charles Ave. & Napoleon Ave.
• St. Charles Ave. & Jackson Ave.
• Canal St. & Carondelet St.
• Canal St. & N. Carrollton Ave. (on Mar. 2 for Endymion only)
• Canal St. & N. Broad St. (on Mar. 2 for Endymion only)

Public Restrooms

The Department of Property Management provides nearly 650 portable restrooms for public use along the parade route. View a map of restroom locations at routewise.nola.gov. Portable restrooms are allowed on private property. However, residents are reminded that if you plan to charge a use fee, you need a permit. Do not place private portable restrooms on neutral grounds, public sidewalks, or other public property. Portable restrooms on flatbeds in parking spots are considered abandoned property that can pose a security risk and will be towed at the owners’ expense.

PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS

Alternatives to Driving

Parades and festivities draw many revelers and heavy traffic. Residents are encouraged to consider alternative transportation options to get there, including bus, streetcar, bike, or for-hire rides. Plan ahead with RTA's Mardi Gras Guide. Download the GoMobile app to plan your trip, check service alerts, purchase fares, and track your bus or streetcar in real time. Streetcar service will be provided along the entire St. Charles Ave. route. However, buses will replace the streetcar from Canal St. to Valence St. about two hours before the first parade begins each day to allow parade goers access to the neutral ground.

Street Closures

Before parades begin or when crowd size warrants, the New Orleans Police Department will close the route to vehicles. See parade routes at routewise.nola.gov.

Portions of Bourbon Street are under construction. The contractor will completely demobilize all labor and materials, including fencing, from the site and temporarily backfill any trenches by close of business on February 18, two weeks in advance of Mardi Gras, to minimize pedestrian and vehicular traffic disruption. The contractor will resume operations on March 7, 2019.

In anticipation of large crowds, the New Orleans Police Department will limit vehicles allowed to enter the French Quarter and will close some streets to vehicles completely. Additional intermittent street closures might be required as crowd size warrants.

VEHICLES LIMITED

Only residents, employees, hotel guests, and taxis/TNCs will be allowed to drive vehicles into the French Quarter beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, Mar. 1 through 5 a.m. Wednesday, Mar. 6:

• Entering the French Quarter within the perimeter of Canal St., Decatur St., Dumaine St., and Rampart St.

NO VEHICLES ALLOWED

No vehicles will be allowed on the following streets from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight Friday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 24 and Wednesday, Feb. 27 through Tuesday, Mar. 5:

• Bourbon St. from Canal St. to Dumaine St.
• 700-800 blocks of St. Ann St., Orleans Ave., St. Peter St., Toulouse St., St. Louis St., Conti St., Bienville St., and Iberville St.

Parking Enforcement and Restrictions

The Department of Public Works will be enforcing parking regulations throughout the Mardi Gras season. Residents are reminded to pay close attention to posted signs. More parking tips and information are available at http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/transportation/#parking.

Parking is restricted along all parade routes two hours before and after parades to ensure parade elements and sanitation crews can access the street. Additional restricted areas include:

UPTOWN

Depending on the specific parade route, parking may be prohibited on either side of the following streets two hours before and after parades. Follow all posted signs.

• Tchoupitoulas St. from Jackson Ave. to Nashville Ave.
• Napoleon Ave. from Tchoupitoulas St. to S. Claiborne Ave.
• St. Charles Ave. from Napoleon Ave. to Canal St.
• Tchoupitoulas St. from Poydras St. to Calliope St.

ENDYMION

On Saturday, Mar. 2, parking is prohibited on either side of the following streets from 6 a.m. until two hours after the parade ends:

• Canal St. from S. Carrollton Ave. to St. Charles Ave.
• N. Carrollton Ave. from Canal St. to Orleans Ave.
• Orleans Ave. from City Park Ave. to N. Carrollton Ave.

FRENCH QUARTER & CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Parking restrictions in the French Quarter and Central Business District will be in place overnight from 12 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 24 and Wednesday, Feb. 27 through Tuesday, Mar. 5:

• 700-800 blocks of St. Ann St., Orleans Ave., St. Peter St., Toulouse St., St. Louis St., Conti St., Bienville St., and Iberville St.
• Bourbon St. from St. Ann to Dumaine St.