State Fair traffic stays manageable on the way in, picks up after concerts let out

GEDDES, N.Y. — The first day of the New York State Fair came with what looked like the perfect recipe for a traffic jam: thousands of fairgoers, Pitbull and Lil Jon performing at the Empower FCU Amphitheater and the All-American Rejects playing at Suburban Park inside the Fairgrounds, with both concerts scheduled for 8 p.m.

But for much of Wednesday afternoon, the major backup many people expected never materialized.

CNY Central tracked traffic between roughly 4 and 6:30 p.m. around the Fairgrounds and amphitheater. Cars slowed in some areas, but traffic continued moving.

Pitbull concertgoers Sara Maneri and Ella De’Piza said their trip into the area was easier than expected.

“690 was great, it was very easy to come in,” they said. “We came in from the north so it was easy breezy.”

The Orange Lot played a major role in moving both Fair and concert traffic. Fairgoers can use free Centro shuttle buses between the lot and the Fair’s main gate, while amphitheater concertgoers can walk from the lot toward the venue.

CNY Central rode the Orange Lot shuttle during the afternoon and encountered some traffic, but nothing close to gridlock. Even as more concertgoers began arriving near the amphitheater, open parking spaces remained farther down the Orange Lot.

Some Fair visitors were already thinking ahead to the trip home.

Peg Halterman said she arrived early and decided to leave before the evening concert crowds built.

“It’s the calm before the storm before the big concert,” Halterman said. “That’s why we are leaving early. We wanted to see Quiet Riot but we didn’t want to get stuck in traffic.”

All-American Rejects concertgoer James Adams also expected leaving to be more difficult than arriving.

“It’s the Fair and a lot of traffic on 81, so it’s going to be a tight squeeze getting out of here,” Adams said.

Later Wednesday night, traffic did begin to pick up as the concerts let out.

Around 10:30 p.m., CNY Central observed moderate traffic on the Interstate 690 east off-ramp toward State Fair Boulevard, along with several Centro buses displaying “Orange Lot” moving through the area.

Traffic also slowed at times near Bridge Street as New York State Police stopped vehicles to allow pedestrians to cross.

The result of CNY Central’s traffic test: getting into the Fair and concert area remained relatively smooth through much of the afternoon and early evening, while the heavier slowdowns developed later as crowds began heading home.