DOWNTOWN — Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock to Downtown Santa Monica Sunday for the L.A. Marathon and city officials want to remind them that if they can walk, bike or take public transit that would be best.
If driving is the only option, there will be parking available, and it won’t come cheap.
The following rates are in effect for all city-owned lots and structures on Sunday for runners who pre-registered at www.lamarathon.com:
• Civic Center Structure and lot: — $20.
• South beach lots: $12.
These lots will be open at midnight to serve the runners. Remaining unreserved spots in the Civic will be sold at $25 per entry before 6 a.m. and $10 per entry after 6 a.m. The South beach lots will return to regular weekend rates of $7 per entry.
• Downtown structures 1-9 and the lot at Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue will be closed Sunday from midnight to 7 a.m. Event rates apply until 6 p.m.: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. — $5 per hour/$15 max. After 6 p.m. — $5 flat rate.
• Civic Center Structure/lot: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. — $10 flat rate. After 6 p.m. — $3 flat rate.
• Central Beach Zone: $15 flat rate.
• North and south beach zones: regular weekend rates ($7 per entry).
No free Main Street Farmers’ Market parking in the beach lots in Sunday.
Need help finding a car? Tickets will be color-coded to correspond to the lot or structure where the car is parked.
Taxis will be available in the valet and bus pull-outs on Second and Fourth streets between Colorado Avenue and Broadway, near Santa Monica Place. Those taking cabs are reminded to only accept rides from those cab companies with a franchise to operate in Santa Monica. They are: Bell Cab, Independent Taxi, Metro Cab, Taxi! Taxi! and Yellow Cab.
Parking in Downtown will be extremely challenging, city officials warn. To help navigate, go to City Hall’s real-time parking map for your mobile phone at www.smgov.net/mobileparkingmaps.
Additional parking is available at meters and private lots throughout the city. Remember that Santa Monica has numerous preferential parking zones which set time limits or prohibit parking in residential neighborhoods. All meter, time limit, preferential parking and other parking restrictions will be strictly enforced.
Those who bike (if brave enough to face the rain) can take advantage of complimentary bike valet service from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the new Bike Center at the corner of Second Street and Colorado Avenue and on Washington and Ocean avenues. The Main Street Farmers’ Market bike valet at 2640 Ocean Ave. will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Street closures will begin at midnight before the race. Police will not begin to reopen streets until at least 3 p.m. so be prepared. For more information go to www.smgov.net/lamarathon or follow City Hall’s Twitter feed: @santamonicacity for live updates.
news@www.smdp.com
