Trains, buses and highway exits: Here's how to avoid traffic getting to Ventura's X Games
If too many of them show up starting Friday, cars could become persona non grata at the Ventura County Fairgrounds for the three-day X Games finals.
To minimize chances of a sequel to the traffic jams, parking chaos and social media thunderbolts triggered by the 55,000 people who converged on the Ventura beachside fairgrounds for the two-day California Strawberrry Festival in May, X Games planners and several partners have worked for months to provide alternatives.
"What we're trying to do is offer a myriad of ways to park so one possible avenue isn’t impacted more than others," said Meredith Hart, Ventura city's economic development manager.
The strategy includes trains, buses, off-site parking, traffic text alerts and even roadside assistance on the 101 Freeway. Here's what we know:
Getting there without a car
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is adding more cars to trains that stop at a depot steps away from the fairgrounds. The line is also adding night runs to help spectators return home with a Santa Barbara-bound train leaving at 7:09 p.m. and a Los Angeles-headed train departing at 9:43 p.m. X Games passengers can receive 15% discounts by using the code V509. For information, go to https://www.amtrak.com/pacific-surfliner-x-games.
The Metrolink commuter service will also extend its routes and take people to the fairgrounds depot Friday night through Sunday. Day passes on Saturday and Sundays cost $10. For information, go to https://metrolinktrains.com/x-games.
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The Ventura County Transportation Commission’s big blue buses will also expand routes from across the county as well as Santa Barbara County. Buses will drop people off at Thompson Boulevard and Figueroa Street, close to the fairgrounds. College students and people 18 and younger can ride for free. For more information, go to http://www.goventura.org/xgames/.
People can also ride their bikes and skateboards to the event and store their rides for free at the fairgrounds.
Off-site X Games parking
People can park for free near the 24-Hour Fitness Center at the Pacific View Mall, 3350 Telegraph Road, Ventura, and take a bus to the fairgrounds. Buses are expected to run about every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The X Games will offer complimentary buses from San Buenaventura State Beach, 901 San Pedro St., Ventura, but people will pay $15 for parking.
Private and public lots in downtown Ventura will also be open for parking though some may charge for the service.
A blocked-off area of Harbor Boulevard at the fairgrounds will be dedicated to rideshare transportation, including Uber, Lyft and taxis. Only rideshare vehicles will be able to access Harbor using Garden Street.
Don't exit from Highway 101's California Street
Everyone who buys an advance ticket for the games is being sent an email about getting to the event that includes a clear message: Do not use the California Street exit off the 101.
The strategy is aimed at reducing bottlenecks on and off the highway. People who disregard the advice and take the off-ramp will be diverted away from the fairgrounds.
Cars headed to the fairgrounds are being asked to take the Seaward exit and proceed up Harbor Boulevard. Southbound Figueroa street near the fairgrounds will also be closed, leaving Harbor as the only route to the site.
The lot holds about 1,400 cars and fills up quickly during large events. On-site parking costs $25 in advance and $30 in person.
Knowing where not to go
It wasn't just people headed to the fairgrounds who were stuck in traffic during the Strawberry Festival. The congestion spread across downtown Ventura.
The X Games will offer a text service that will send alerts to people about closures and filled parking lots. To get the messages, text 772-494-2637.
The Ventura County Transportation Commission will also send tow trucks on the 101 during the X Games to offer free aid to people in disabled vehicles. They'll change flat tires, provide a gallon of gas for empty tanks and offer temporary repairs to leaky hoses.
For more information on parking and traffic, go to https://tinyurl.com/5x9h3jna. For event and ticket information, go to www.xgames.com.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Here's how to avoid traffic jams enroute to Ventura's X Games
