February 17, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS ANNOUNCES PUBLIC SAFETY PREPARATION FOR MARDI GRAS 2022
NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans this week announced preparations that are underway for Mardi Gras season. Ahead of major parades, City and public safety officials, alongside state and federal partners, are preparing parade routes and keeping residents informed to ensure the 2022 Carnival season is safe and celebratory.
KEEPING RESIDENTS INFORMED
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) will provide public information leading up to and during Mardi Gras events through NOLA Ready. Tips and resources about transportation, safety, what to bring and permitting are outlined at ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras.
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS COVID GUIDELINES IN EFFECT
As Mardi Gras resumes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to follow COVID guidelines, which will be in place throughout Carnival Season:
- Masks are required in all indoor spaces outside the home. This includes bars, restaurants, hotels, Carnival balls and all other indoor spaces, unless a person is actively eating or drinking.
- To access most public indoor spaces, everyone ages 5 and older must show proof of full COVID vaccination OR a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours.
Details on COVID guidelines are available at ready.nola.gov/COVID.
COVID PRECAUTIONS DURING CARNIVAL
The New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) is reminding residents and visitors to prepare for a safe Carnival season by doing the following:
- Maximize immunity during Carnival season by being fully vaccinated against COVID and getting a booster shot.
- Stay home if you are sick, and get tested to know your status.
The following free COVID testing and vaccine sites are open throughout Mardi Gras, Monday through Saturday, every week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All sites will be closed on Sundays, Lundi Gras (Feb. 28) and Mardi Gras Day (March 1). Sites will reopen Wednesday, March 2.
- Mahalia Jackson Theater, 1419 Basin St., New Orleans, LA 70116
- UNO Lakefront Arena, 6801 Franklin Ave., New Orleans, LA 70122
- Alario Center, 2000 Segnette Blvd., Westwego, LA 70094
Vaccine and testing sites are listed at ready.nola.gov/calendar.
PREPARING PARADE ROUTES
Neutral Grounds and Sidewalks
The Department of Parks and Parkways has trimmed trees along parade routes and will keep the neutral grounds clear throughout the season. Residents are reminded not to rope off areas of the neutral ground, public sidewalks or other public property, which is prohibited by law.
Additionally, all items placed on the public right of way, including the neutral ground for four hours or more prior to the start of the parade are subject to removal by the Department of Parks and Parkways. Residents should not leave ladders, tents, grills or any other item on the neutral ground or along curbs and sidewalks overnight. Anything left will be disposed of.
For more information on what to bring and what not to bring to parades, visit http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/#tents.
Trash and Recycling
This year, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will once again install "gutter buddies" — barriers that block solid objects from entering drains — along parade routes. Residents and visitors are also encouraged to do their part to keep trash off the streets and out of the drainage system. Tips include cleaning up your area before you leave, depositing trash in public receptacles or carrying your trash with you to dispose of later.
Department of Sanitation crews will follow parades each day to clean routes. Parade goers are urged to stay clear of sanitation crews and their heavy equipment.
For more information, visit http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/what-to-bring/#trash.
First Aid and Lost Children
First aid stations along parade routes will provide basic care for parade goers’ minor injuries, which reduces the strain on first responders and local hospital emergency rooms. First aid stations will be staffed by volunteers from the NOLA Ready Volunteer Corps, the New Orleans Health Department Medical Reserve Corps, the New Orleans EMS VIGOR program and the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross. Parade goers are encouraged to only use first aid stations for minor medical assistance. However, always call 9-1-1 during a medical emergency.
On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse:
- St. Charles Avenue and Napoleon Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue and Washington Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue and Felicity Street
- St. Charles Avenue at the Circle
- St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street
- Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street (Feb. 26 only)
- Broad Street and Canal Street (Feb. 26 only)
Lost children stations will be staffed by the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). Because most families are quickly reunited near the area they were separated, residents are encouraged to tell the nearest public safety official if a child is lost.
On parade days, stations are open one hour before the first float of the first parade and until crowds disperse.
- St. Charles Avenue and Napoleon Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue and Jackson Avenue
- Canal Street and Carondelet Street
- Canal Street and N. Pierce Street (Feb. 26 only)
- Canal Street and N. Broad Street (Feb. 26 only)
- Poydras Street and Loyola Avenue (Feb. 26 only)
Public Restrooms
The Department of Property Management provides nearly 550 portable restrooms for public use along the parade routes. View a map of restroom locations at routewise.nola.gov.
Portable restrooms are allowed on private property. However, residents are reminded that a permit is required if a fee is charged. Private portable restrooms are prohibited from being placed on neutral grounds, public sidewalks or other public property. Portable restrooms on flat beds in parking spots are considered abandoned property that can pose a security risk and will be towed at the owners’ expense.
PLANNING FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPACTS
Alternatives to Driving
Parades and festivities draw many revelers and heavy traffic. Residents are encouraged to consider alternative transportation options including bus, streetcar, bike or for-hire rides. Plan ahead with RTA's Mardi Gras Guide. Download the GoMobile app to pre-purchase and store fares, plan your trip, check service alerts and track your bus or streetcar in real time.
Streetcar service along the 12-St. Charles route will operate from Carrollton Avenue and S. Claiborne to Napoleon Avenue. Shuttle bus service will replace streetcar service from St. Charles and Valance via the 15-Freret route with service to Duncan Plaza during the Uptown parades. Streetcar service along Canal Street will terminate at Baronne Street during Uptown parades, except for the Endymion Parade and Mardi Gras day parades. RTA will have unique route detours for Endymion and Mardi Gras day parades. Bus service will cease two hours before the first parade. Ferry service along the Algiers Point-Canal Street route will be extended Feb. 18 through March 1.
Riders can learn more by contacting Rideline at (504) 248-3900 or visiting norta.com/Mardi-Gras.
Street Closures
Before parades begin or when crowd size warrants, the NOPD will close the route to vehicles. See parade routes at routewise.nola.gov.
In anticipation of large crowds, NOPD will limit vehicles allowed to enter the French Quarter and will close some streets to vehicles completely. Additional intermittent street closures may be required depending on crowd size.
Only residents, employees, hotel guests and taxis/TNCs will be allowed to drive vehicles into the French Quarter starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 through 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2. Permitted vehicles should enter the French Quarter within the perimeter of Iberville Street, Decatur Street, Dumaine Street and Rampart Street.
Vehicles will not be allowed on the following streets from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight Friday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 20, Wednesday, Feb. 23 and Thursday, Feb. 24. These streets will be closed to vehicles 24/7 beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25 through 5 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2:
- Bourbon Street from Canal Street to Dumaine Street
- 700-800 blocks of St. Ann Street, Orleans Avenue, St. Peter Street, Toulouse Street, St. Louis Street, Conti Street, Bienville Street and Iberville Street
Parking Enforcement and Restrictions
DPW will be enforcing parking regulations throughout the Mardi Gras season. Residents are reminded to pay close attention to posted signs and note that additions and changes are possible pending safety concerns. More parking tips and information are available at http://ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/transportation/#parking.
Parking is restricted along all parade routes two hours before and after parades to ensure parade elements and sanitation crews can access the streets. Additional restricted areas include:
UPTOWN
Depending on the specific parade route, parking may be prohibited on either side of the following streets two hours before and after parades:
- Tchoupitoulas Street from Jackson Avenue to Nashville Avenue
- Napoleon Avenue from Tchoupitoulas Street to S. Claiborne Avenue
- St. Charles Avenue from Napoleon Avenue to Canal Street
- Tchoupitoulas Street from Poydras Street to Calliope Street
ENDYMION
On Saturday, Feb. 26, parking is prohibited on either side of the following streets from 6 a.m. until two hours after the parade ends:
- Canal Street from S. Carrollton Avenue to Elk Place/Basin Street
- Carrollton Avenue from Canal Street to Orleans Avenue
- Orleans Avenue from City Park Avenue to N. Carrollton Avenue
FRENCH QUARTER & CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
Parking restrictions in the French Quarter and Central Business District will be in place from 12 p.m. to 6 a.m. beginning Friday, Feb. 18 through Sunday, Feb. 20 and Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Wednesday, March 2:
- 700-800 blocks of St. Ann Street, Orleans Avenue, St. Peter Street, Toulouse Street, St. Louis Street, Conti Street, Bienville Street and Iberville Street
- Bourbon Street from St. Ann Street to Dumaine Street
Additional or intermittent road closures and parking restrictions may be added at the discretion of NOPD or other law enforcement agencies.
CARNIVAL SAFETY TIPS FROM THE NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT
The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) would like to remind residents to take fire safety precautions throughout Carnival season:
- All Mardi Gras costumes should be made of flame retardant materials.
- Use caution when in the vicinity of flambeaux being used in parades.
- Open flames are prohibited, and cooking with portable BBQ pits or similar equipment is strongly discouraged. The use of such equipment along parade routes requires extreme caution to keep combustibles clear of large crowds. BBQ pits and grills must be at least six feet back from the street curb. Properly discard of any hot ashes, cinders or smoldering coals. Do not set up a BBQ pit or similar equipment in ANY intersection.
- Be sure not to leave any cooking equipment on or unattended when you leave home.
- Always ensure smoking materials are properly extinguished and discarded in approved receptacles.
- Do not park in intersections or block fire hydrants. Do not park on the opposite side of the street of a parade route.
- Be prepared to move out of the way of approaching fire apparatus or other emergency vehicles.
- All tents or tarps must be flame retardant and any tent over 120 sq. feet must have an NOFD permit.
- Discharging of fireworks is illegal.
NOFD would also like to remind residents of the following safety measures in place, per City of New Orleans ordinance 34-33: All ladders used by parade spectators must be structurally sound. No ladders, chairs, ice chests, chaise lounges, barbecue grills or any other similar personal effects shall be placed in intersections or between curbs of public streets before, during, and after a parade. Ladders, tents, grills and other personal effects must be placed six feet back from the street curb. Additionally, the practice of fastening two or more ladders together is prohibited. It is also prohibited to use ropes or other similar items to create a barricade or otherwise obstruct passage along public property, unless otherwise specifically authorized.
Real-time updates related to weather, safety, traffic and parade delays will be provided on NOLA Ready social media (@nolaready) and via text message. Residents and visitors are encouraged to text MARDIGRAS to 77295 to subscribe to text updates.
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