Shriners Coming, City Is Ready

By ELLEN GEDALIUS The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 26, 2006

TAMPA - City officials promise they are prepared to host the largest convention in Tampa's history.

They promise commuters and tourists that they will have a smooth ride downtown when 20,000 people are here next week for the Shriners convention.

They promise the event won't become notorious the way a motivational seminar in March has: As a traffic nightmare that snarled roads for hours, caused jams downtown and prompted people to question whether Tampa could handle big events.

City and transportation officials have been working for months to prepare for the Shriners' arrival. They say they will do a better job of directing traffic. HARTline will extend hours.

"Each one is a learning experience," said Roy LaMotte, the city's transportation manager, who took heat for the problems in March. "Hopefully, it will not be as painful as the motivational seminar."

The Shriners start arriving Friday for their weeklong visit, which runs during the July Fourth holiday weekend.

What to expect:

•No street closings are planned, except for parades. Visit the city's Web site at www.tampagov.netfor information about traffic alerts for the Shriners of North America Bally Hoo Bash and Nightshirt Parade scheduled for July 3; the July Fourth fireworks at Channelside; and the July Fourth Shriners parade on Bayshore Boulevard.

•Lanes near the Tampa Convention Center may be set aside to queue buses.

•No detours are planned.

•An increased traffic personnel presence downtown July 5, which is expected to be the toughest traffic day because people will be returning to work after the holiday.

•Police stationed at crossing points near the convention center to answer questions. On average, six officers will be in the area, with perhaps as many as 20 on July 5.

•Signs directing traffic and leading to parking.

•Traffic signals will be altered, as needed.

•Extended HARTline trolley and streetcar hours. Route 98 will run from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday and July 4, with service every 15 minutes. The streetcar will run until 10 p.m. on Sunday and until 11 p.m. on July 4.

Officials say the Shriners event is very different from the motivational seminar that brought 20,000 motorists to the St. Pete Times Forum during the height of rush-hour traffic, in the middle of a typical workweek. The seminar started at 8 a.m.

"There's a big difference between the Shriners spread out over four or five days, and 20,000 people all at once at the convention center at rush hour," said Tampa police Maj. John Bennett, special operations commander. "We're completely apples to oranges in planning."

Only about 1,600 to 2,000 people are expected to attend the daily events at the convention center, said Alicia Argiz-Lyons, a Shriners spokeswoman.

Thousands more will attend other events scattered throughout the county, with activities scheduled in the West Shore area and at the Florida State Fairgrounds, University of South Florida and Vandenberg Airport. That takes the stress off the downtown streets, Argiz-Lyons said.

Another way the Shriners convention is different from the motivational seminar is that the Shriners event will bring tourists from across the country, many of whom will stay in hotels and will not have cars. The motivational seminar drew mainly local residents.

That's enough for city officials to be optimistic that all will go well.

"Wednesday is not going to be like motivation," said the mayor's chief of staff, Darrell Smith. "School is out. People are on vacation. Just allow a little bit of extra time, just in case."

Contact Ellen Gedalius at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.