\n\tBy SHANNON WELLS and SUSAN JONES<\/p>\n
\n\tMost NFL Draft-related events will take place at Point State Park and on Pittsburgh\u2019s North Shore around Acrisure Stadium next week, but the influx of visitors could have an impact on the Oakland area,<\/p>\n
\n\tTed Fritz, Pitt\u2019s vice chancellor for public safety and emergency management, addressed potential impacts to Oakland and the Pitt campus during his April 7 update to the Campus Utilization, Planning and Safety (CUPS) committee.<\/p>\n
\n\tOrganizers have said that the April 23 to 25 event could attract 500,000 people to the city. A check of hotels in the Oakland area shows most are almost or completely sold out.<\/p>\n
\n\tFritz said that Pitt Police have been involved in various exercises downtown, and \u201calthough we\u2019re not going to be participating too much down there, we anticipate that there could be some extra traffic in our own area, both visitors and vehicle-wise.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tInformation about road closures, traffic alerts and other related concerns regarding Oakland will be posted on the Public Safety and Emergency Management<\/a> social media pages.<\/p>\n \n\tA Pitt spokesman said, \u201cThe University is asking supervisors at our Pittsburgh campus to encourage flexibility, including remote work when possible, in an effort to ease traffic congestion during the upcoming NFL Draft.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tFritz also emphasized the importance of the If You See Something, Say Something campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe think we\u2019re going to be needed in Oakland, so largely our police will be sticking tight to the Oakland area and just trying to find out information as best we can and plan accordingly. It\u2019s a great three days to be flexible,\u201d he said, noting that it\u2019s a \u201cgreat time, if you can, to use the PRT. That would be helpful to easing congestion throughout the city.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tPittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) also is changing some of its bus schedules to accommodate four \u201cFootball Flyer\u201d routes, including one starting at Monroeville Mall and serving every station along the East Busway. The Football Flyer buses will run from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. April 23 to 25.<\/p>\n \n\tAll other buses that come through Oakland will be operating on a Saturday schedule all three days, expect the 65 and P3, which will not be running at all. Go to PRT\u2019s NFL Draft website<\/a> for complete details.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cIf you\u2019re \u2026 thinking about going to the draft (events), you want to download the NFL OnePass app<\/a>. That\u2019s going to be a source of information for you for evolving things, as well as just how the setup is going to be down there,\u201d Fritz said.<\/p>\n \n\tAnd don\u2019t forget Pitt Athletics, in partnership with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, will host a three-day celebration at downtown\u2019s\u00a0new Arts Landing<\/a>\u00a0to coincide with the NFL Draft.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Pitt Block Party, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23 to 25, will be the first major event at Arts Landing \u2014 the four-acre performance and civic space along 8th Street between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard.<\/p>\n \n\tThe free Pitt Athletics event will include: Pitt Football Legacy Hall, local food trucks, autograph signings, DJs and live music, Panthers Team Store, Kids Zone and College Football 26 Gaming Area.<\/p>\n \tBike the Draft<\/p>\n \n\tBike Pittsburgh (BikePGH) is encouraging residents and visitors to consider biking, walking and using public transit to get around the city during the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tWith the support of VisitPITTSBURGH, BikePGH has created the Bike the Draft Resource Guide<\/a>, which shows how choosing a bike is the easiest and most convenient way to beat traffic and get around town, whether you are heading to this major event or just trying to make it to work on time.\u00a0It includes information on:<\/p>\n \n\tRoute recommendations and detours: Guidance on how to bike to and around the North Shore, including tips for navigating trail and road closures.<\/p>\n \n\tBike parking map: A curated map of secure, convenient places to lock up within walking distance of the action, featuring high-capacity racks and some lesser-known but reliable spots.<\/p>\n \n\tSafety and prep tips: A refresher on biking basics, from doing a safety check before rolling out to riding predictably and yielding to pedestrians.<\/p>\n \n\tLocking your bike: Recommendations for how and where to lock your bike properly.<\/p>\n \n\tMultimodal trips: Guidance on using the Pittsburgh Bike Map, where to park your car near convenient bike routes, getting your bike on a bus rack, and how to rent a POGOH bike share.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tShannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu<\/a>. Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu<\/a> or 724-244-4042.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share?\u00a0Share<\/a>\u00a0it with the University Times.<\/p>\n