BETHLEHEM, Pa. — As Musikfest heats up, the City of Bethlehem and ArtsQuest are implementing plans to help people get to — and pass by — the festival without excess headache.
- ArtsQuest and the City of Bethlehem have laid out plans to close roads and provide shuttle services in anticipation of Musikfest
- Road closures are set to be similar to recent iterations of the festival
- Shuttles will service from parking locations as well as between the concerts on Bethlehem's North and South sides
- Ongoing nearby construction is not anticipated to affect festival-goers
Bethlehem Deputy Director of Public Works and Chief of Engineering Basel Yandem said residents can expect business as usual for festival traffic.
"For the most part, it's pretty similar to the past years," Yandem said. "There is no more road closure than the usual."
"It's definitely going to cause some traffic delay. Try to be patient, follow the signs, follow the change of directions. That will make it easier on everybody."Bethlehem Deputy Director of Public Works and Chief of Engineering Basel Yandem
With Musikfest last year reaching a record attendance of 1.24 million people and projections for the event to be similarly busy, Yandem urged people to understand that disruptions likely will occur throughout the week.
It's just a fact because of the volume of people, he said.
"It's definitely going to cause some traffic delay," Yandem said. "Try to be patient, follow the signs, follow the change of directions. That will make it easier on everybody."
Help from the city, volunteers
While there are multiple construction projects currently going on in Bethlehem's South Side, Yandem said there's no anticipation they will affect travel during the festival.
He said active construction is mostly finished or happening off the streets, with no interruption by heavy equipment.
"They know it's Musikfest, they need to keep the streets open, they need to make sure that they are keeping it convenient to the residents in the area," Yabndem said.
Yandem said a helpful thing is that during weekdays, visitors for the festival often come after peak commute hours, reducing some conflict and congestion that could occur.
The new Polk Street parking garage, just off of East Third Street and operated by the Bethlehem Parking Authority, opened right in time for Musikfest.
It added 731 spaces to Bethlehem's South Side, letting more people get closer to the SteelStacks stages.
ArtsQuest President Kassie Hilgert commended the city and the nonprofit's partners for getting the streets and other preparations set for the festival.
"None of this happens if they aren't willing partners," Hilgert said. "We couldn't have a better partner with the city, including police, fire, EMS, City Hall, the mayor, city council.
"All this happens because not just city hall, and all the emergency responders and parks and streets. It's also because the businesses, the hotels, the restaurants, the members, the volunteers, they're the ones that all come together and say, we want this to happen.
"You can't do a free festival in the middle of the city unless the city and the people in it and outside of it want it to happen, period."
Hilgert said a force of about 500 volunteers on site per day, as well as the work put on by the city and the sponsors are what make it all happen.
"You're getting into the thousands when it comes to what it takes to put on the festival each day, and certainly leading up to it," Hilgert said.
"I think people think a lot about the 10 or 11 days of Musikfest, but it's really the two weeks before, the 10 or 11 days like we have this year, and then the five days afterwards to shut down.
"It's almost a month that you have this kind of a workforce, putting on one festival."
Road closures set
As with past years, streets near Musikfest's stages and festivities will be closed to traffic so all the mug-loving fest-goers can traverse with ease.
Road closures start at 11 a.m. daily, opened and closed by city and ArtsQuest employees and volunteers, going until midnight.
Various Musikfest stage areas near Main Street and the festival grounds on the North Side, as well as near the SteelStacks on the South Side will have closures.
Yandem said residents should keep attention on the signs of what directions to go and when it will be posted, as well as to be patient. He said if residents are aware of a large event happening in a specific area, to avoid it for that day.
Downtown on the North Side, Main Street will be closed through Broad Street and Lehigh Street, while Catastoga Street becomes a one-way going South.
Near Main Street, other closures are planned.
Lehigh Street will be closed starting at Center Street and New Street through Conestoga Street and Market Street will be closed up from Main Street through New Street.
Additionally, Church Street will be closed from New Street to Main Street.
Some directions of one-way roads and some two-way roads nearby will become one-way to provide exits away from closed roads.
During the festival, Yandem said, teams of ArtsQuest volunteers, street and grounds staff, and collaboration with police, EMS and fire officials ensure the streets close and open properly within listed hours, and so they can reopen the festival to clean streets the next day.
He said the co-ordination year after year is the result of months of planning to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of attendees.
There will be a message board on Third Street and Founders Way near the SteelStacks, reminding the need for permits to enter the campus.
ArtsQuest also reminds that the Main Street extension ramp off Route 378 North is closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic during Musikfest hours (11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 3-11:30 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Festival information says guests walking to the festival via 378 North can access the Musikfest grounds by taking the stairway to Hill Bridge just south of the Main Street Ramp.
Shuttle service for parking ease
ArtsQuest's website for Musikfest currently recommends its two remote shuttle-serviced parking lots at 1525 Valley Center Parkway and 240 Emery St.
The Valley Center Parkway service drops off and picks up at "Shuttleplatz North" on Bethlehem's North Side near Conestoga and West Lehigh Streets, while the Emery Street service drops off and picks up at "Shuttleplatz South" at the Second Street parking lot across from ArtsQuest the Univest Public Media Center.
Yandem, speaking for the city, said he hopes the shuttles will reduce some traffic.
Both shuttle lots operate 5-11 p.m. Monday through and 11:30 a.m. through 11 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with final shuttles departing at 11:40 p.m.
Each round trip costs $9 for those older than 13, and $7 for ages 3-12. Under aged 2 are free.
To get from the North part of Musikfest to the South and vice versa, a shuttle from the Colonial Industrial Quarter to the Southside Arts District will be available from 5:12 to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 5-13.
Unlimited daily rides for the north-south transfer costs $6 for ages older than 13, and $4 for ages 3-12,
North-south transfer shuttles are free for ArtsQuest members with a valid membership card or if you bought shuttle service for that day.
Hilgert also said Lehigh and Northampton Transportation bus service will be available, and the city remains walkable between stages, including between the north and south side performances if able.
ArtsQuest officials said the most up-to-date information for the festival will be on the Musikfest smartphone app.
"I would say, you know, get down here early, take advantage of the off street and the shuttles that is the easiest way to get around," Hilgert said. "And make sure you stay hydrated."
Disability access
ArtsQuest also lists on its website for Musikfest that parking for people with disabilities is available on the North Side and Historic District along Conestoga Street, adjacent to the Festplatz and Lehigh Street, in front of the Wooden Match restaurant at 61 W. Lehigh St.
On the South Side, limited parking is available at parking lots on Second Street near SteelStacks, across from Steel Stage, with drop-offs also possible.
ArtsQuest said all Musikfest stages are accessible to people with disabilities and areas are offered for ADA-compliant seating, including at Steel Stage.
