With demolition of the West Parking Garage underway, there will be impacts to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

• Installation of temporary barricades and traffic control devices on S.E. First Avenue. Northbound traffic will be restricted while the south bound lane remains open.
• Installation of temporary barricades and traffic control devices on Courthouse Drive. One east bound lane will remain open.
• Pedestrian traffic will be routed around the work area and courthouse users may experience dust and noise resulting from demolition activities.

In preparation for the August 18 closing of the West Parking Garage, the following steps are being taken:

• Beginning August 2, the north lane of Sixth Street (adjacent to the Judicial Complex) will be closed from S.E. Third Ave. to S.E. First Ave. Two lanes of traffic on Sixth Street will remain open.
• Beginning August 22, the north bound land on First Ave. (adjacent to the Judicial Complex) will be closed from S.E. Sixth Street to Courthouse Drive; south bound lane will remain open.

Demolition of the West Parking Garage, which begins August 22, will create some parking challenges. Steps are being taken to maximize use of the East Parking Garage. Specifically:

• Beginning August 6, Clerk of Courts will reduce the daily jury pool count to 325.
• Beginning August 13, Detention employees will move from the Judges and Elected Officials’ temporary parking lot to the East Garage. Employees on B shift must only use the employee side of the East Garage or the existing Gross Lot for parking. A and C shift employees can also continue to use the existing Gross Lot.
• Beginning August 20, judges, elected officials and certain designated staff will begin parking in the temporary parking lot area. All other employees currently parking in the West Garage will begin parking in the East Garage.
• Agencies will maintain current levels of staff parking at the East Garage, eliminate or reduce parking validations for contractors and other parties, and conduct business in other locations where possible.

The parking situation will be monitored continually throughout the project to ensure that all available parking alternatives are being utilized. If these solutions are not effective, a back-up plan is in place that may include shuttling jurors, which could begin sometime in October 2012.

We are also evaluating whether the exit arms in the East Garage can remain open at certain times, improving traffic flow as employees depart the workplace. We anticipate a decision by the end of July.