Austin City Limits Festival: Safety tips and transportation
The stages are almost set at Zilker Park.
Wednesday morning, sound equipment was still going up and fencing was still being installed for those who will head into the ACL Music Festival.
Most of the stages are wedged into the Great Lawn, several providing a clear view of downtown.
Another stage is located across the road next to Barton Springs Pool. Getting around all that construction, for those trying to take a swim, almost requires a spring board to get in.
Laura Fairbanks says her ACL plan involves bypassing the crowds. "I'll swim at Barton Springs, and I'll hear the music from there. I'll be here early and leave early,” said Fairbanks.
For those going to the Austin City Limits Music Festival, organizers encourage people to walk in, take a bike or use CapMetro, either a bus or a train. "We will be running Friday Saturday and Sunday on Metro rapid until 2:30 in the morning, so hope that will help folks get home safely, and get to the festival easily, and we will also be offering Metro rail service, last trip will leave downtown Friday and Saturday at 2:30 am and on Sunday at midnight,” said Sam Sargent with CapMetro.
There are also three drop off locations for ride sharing.
They're located on Lee Barton Dr. Sterzing St and Veterans Drive, near Austin High.
To get from the campus it’s a short walk to the park using the MoPac footbridge.
A pre-festival walkabout was done Wednesday afternoon by officials with the Austin Fire Department. It's in anticipation that a lot of those going to ACL will also spend some time in Austin's entertainment district.
Along with talking about safety inspections, Fire Marshal Rob Vires says his team of about a dozen inspectors will spend the next few weekends focused on overcrowding.
"It’s a challenge for the club owners, the supervisors on duty at the time, and us at well, and we want to make sure folks have a good time, there are plenty of places for them to go, we just want to make sure they don’t all try to fit into the same location at the same time,” said Vires.
Last year, AFD issued four citations to bar owners for having too many people inside their buildings. Typically, along with overcrowding, officials with AFD say the most common citations involve not having proper public assembly permits and blocked exits.