By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, September 11, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG
The Yankees are in town, and the next three nights are sure to be sellout crowds. So the traffic is bound to be bad, right? Not so fast, say city officials eager to dismiss the notion that downtown St. Petersburg isn't the best home for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Joe Kubicki, St. Petersburg's director of transportation and parking, has visited all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks. He calls Tropicana Field one of the easiest to access.
But he says many don't know this. Too many fall into the trap of staying on Interstate 275 to exit at Fifth Ave N or from Interstates 375 and 175.
He created a map to show the best ways to beat congestion.
From Tampa: The key is exiting before the gridlock. Kubicki suggests exiting right after the Howard Frankland at Fourth Street N (Exit 19) or the Dr. M.L. King Street N ramp (Exit 18) and heading south.
Another option is 54 Avenue N (Exit 26), heading east to Fourth Street N, and then taking that to downtown.
Other insiders suggest avoiding the car. In St. Petersburg, park anywhere along the Pinellas Trail and bike over. Bike racks are at Lot 6 near the pedestrian bridge, Gate 4 in the plaza and lower Gate 6 across from Lot 5.
Tampa fans can leave Channelside aboard Escot Bus Lines and get dropped off for $15. At West Shore Plaza, get on for $12. Visit escotbuslines.com/what-do-we-do/sports/tampa-bay-rays.
Once you are downtown, pay $5 at downtown St. Petersburg's South Core garage (enter from the north side of First Ave. S between Second and First streets) and take the free shuttle to the Trop. Fans complained about the 40-minute waits during the recent Red Sox series, but Kubicki promised a shuttle every five minutes when the Yanks are in town.