Preakness Traffic: Public Transportation, Road Closures, Parking

BALTIMORE, MD — There are many roads that lead to Preakness, and transportation officials from both the city and state are helping to guide those headed for the races. In particular, they are hoping to guide people to take public transportation. Scroll down for the various modes and fares.

"Patrons attending the event are strongly urged to carpool or use public transportation," the Baltimore City Department of Transportation said in a statement. "All posted parking restrictions will be strictly enforced and vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed."

Those who drive should park in commercial lots and avoid parking in area neighborhoods, city transportation officials advise. Towed vehicles will be taken to Cylburn Avenue south of Northern Parkway. Vehicle owners should call 311 for information.

Gates open at 8 a.m on Saturday, May 18, at Pimlico Race Course, 5201 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215.

Before Saturday's race, the horses began arriving at Pimlico.

For those taking public transportation, the Maryland Transit Administration will provide shuttles to Pimlico from the Rogers Avenue station, Cold Spring light rail and Poly-Western High School. Those shuttles will begin at 8 a.m on Saturday, May 18, and will end two hours after the race.

Here is guidance from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

From Towson, Lutherville, Timonium, Hunt Valley and Southern Pennsylvania: Take the light rail to the Cold Spring stop, then take the shuttle bus to Pimlico. The light rail requires a $4.20 day pass.

From Glen Burnie, BWI Marshall Airport, Linthicum, Severna Park, Annapolis: Take the light rail to Cold Spring Lane, then the shuttle to Pimlico. The light rail requires a $4.20 day pass.

From downtown Baltimore: Take the subway from Charles Center, Lexington Market or Shot Tower to Rogers Avenue, then take the shuttle bus to Pimlico; or take the light rail to Cold Spring and then get the shuttle bus to Pimlico. The subway requires a $4.20 day pass.

From Owings Mills, Reisterstown, Glyndon, Old Court, Milford Mill: Take the subway to Rogers Avenue, then the shuttle bus to Pimlico. The subway requires a $4.20 day pass.

From Mount Washington, Falls Road, Coldspring, Northern Parkway, Cross Keys: Take Park & Ride Express bus from Poly-Western High School to Pimlico. This requires a $4.20 day pass.

From MARC train: Take the Pen line to Penn station in Baltimore, then the Penn/Camden shuttle bus to the Mt. Royal/MICA light rail. Take the light rail north to the Cold Spring Lane light rail stop and get the shuttle bus to Pimlico. Train fare is $5 to $12 one-way, or a weekly/monthly pass. It is $4.20 for the light rail day pass.

Local Buses: Numbers 30, 31, 34, 85, 91 and 94 all stop near the track. Fare is $1.80 one-way or $4.20 for an all-day pass.

To pay fares by mobile, download the CharmPass.

You can also download the Transit app to track your bus.

_{Graphic from the Preakness brochure courtesy of MDOT MTA.}

Road Closures For Preakness 2019

Starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, road closures will begin to take effect around Pimlico Race Course. Baltimore City Department of Transportation provided this list of traffic changes:

Thursday, May 16, 2019 starting at 10:00 p.m. until Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 11:00 p.m.
One-Way traffic system:

• Manhattan Avenue – one way eastbound from Winner Avenue to Pimlico Road
• Whitney Avenue – one-way westbound from Pimlico Road to Key Avenue
• Sulgrave Avenue – one-way westbound from Stuart Avenue to Highgate Avenue
• Rockwood Avenue – one-way eastbound from Key Avenue to Berkeley Avenue
• Simmons Avenue – one-way southbound from Rockwood Avenue to Manhattan Avenue
• Woodcrest Avenue – one-way northbound from W. Northern Parkway to Rockwood Avenue
• Merville Avenue – one-way southbound from Glen Avenue to W. Northern Parkway
• Berkeley Avenue – one-way northbound from Whitney Avenue to Glen Avenue
• Stuart Avenue – one-way northbound from W. Northern Parkway to Sulgrave Avenue
• Rusk Avenue – one-way southbound from Whitney Avenue to W. Northern Parkway.

Friday, May 17, 2019 starting at 5:00 a.m. until Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 11:00 p.m.

• Rogers Avenue – Closed from Winner Avenue to W. Northern Parkway
• Bland Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Rogers Avenue
• Key Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Rogers Avenue
• Woodcrest Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Rogers Avenue
• Merville Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Rogers Avenue
• Stuart Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Rogers Avenue
• Rogers Avenue – One-way westbound from Winner Avenue to Park Heights Avenue
• Winner Avenue – One-way northbound Hayward Avenue to W. Northern Parkway

Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.

• Southbound Jones Falls Expressway exit ramp to eastbound W. Northern Parkway will be closed. Motorists will be redirected to the Cold Spring Lane exits.
• Cylburn Avenue – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Greenspring Avenue

Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

• Hayward Avenue – One way eastbound from Park Heights to Winner Avenues

Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

• Pimlico Road – Closed from W. Northern Parkway to Ken Oak Avenue
• Pimlico Road – One-way northbound from Ken Oak Avenue to W. Greenspring Avenue
• Westbound W. Northern Parkway – Closed from Falls Road to W. Greenspring Avenue
• The North & Southbound Jones Falls Expressway exit ramps to westbound Northern Parkway will be closed

In addition, an emergency travel lane will be implemented along eastbound W. Northern Parkway (next to the median) between Park Heights Avenue and Greenspring Avenue for emergency vehicles only from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Preakness Day.