80.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesGuidelines Offered for Safety, Parking and Transportation During Carnival

Guidelines Offered for Safety, Parking and Transportation During Carnival

April 23, 2007 — Along with the celebration of Carnival comes security issues, and territorial authorities have issued a precautionary advisory, along with detailed transportation information.
Safety Measures
The V.I. Police Department, along with District Chief of Police Milton Petersen Sr., wishes the community a happy Carnival Season and issues the following precautionary advisory.
The general public is advised to make sure their dwellings (doors and windows) are properly secured prior to going out or to bed at night; particularly individuals living alone, especially females. The public is also advised to make sure their dwellings have adequate exterior lighting and are not heavily surrounded with overgrown grass.
While enjoying the season’s festivities, be mindful of your surroundings and your valuables. Have your vehicle keys out and ready when approaching your vehicle. Also, check inside your vehicle before entering, particularly if you are alone.
If you become a victim of a crime, call 911 or 776-9110 immediately. Be sure to give the 911 operator clear directions to your location and any information about injuries should you or anyone be injured. All known information about the perpetrator should also be provided to the 911 operator. This includes description of the suspect, suspect’s clothing, path of flight from the scene of the crime, if the perpetrator was armed with a weapon of any kind, etc. Try not to disturb the immediate area in which the crime was committed, leaving things as you found them or as they are.
If you are the victim of a rape, do not bathe or change your clothing. When the officer arrives, you will be given assistance and further instructions. The VIPD has on staff a crime victim advocate who works with the Police Department in assisting victims of crimes of this magnitude and other crimes.
Additionally, the general public is advised to report all unusual or suspicious activities immediately to 911. Don’t drink and drive. Secure vehicles properly. Don’t leave items of value visible inside your vehicle. Park your vehicle in a safe and well lit area. While criminals may have their motives and ability to commit crimes, we can make all efforts possible to deny them the opportunity.
Traffic and Parking Regulations
The VIPD informs the motoring public that until midnight on Saturday, May 6, parking will be prohibited in the Fort Christian Parking Lot to allow for the construction and dismantling of the Carnival Village. No parking will be allowed in the Carnival Village at any time, except when loading or unloading supplies. Vehicles found parked in the Fort Christian Parking Lot or around the village that obstructs the normal flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be towed and ticketed at the owner’s expense. There will be a $75 charge for towing and a traffic citation fee.
To alleviate parking problems caused by the closure of the Fort Christian Parking Lot, the Port Authority has given permission for drivers to park their vehicles along the waterfront on the apron. You must park carefully and at the proper distance to allow others to park in a safe and complete manner. When exiting the waterfront apron, drivers must make a left turn to ensure the safety of all drivers on the waterfront.
Other parking restrictions residents and visitors should be mindful of include parking less than 10 feet from the corner, less than 10 feet from a fire hydrant, in taxi stands and handicapped areas, in front of the Criminal Justice Complex and on Main Street from Monday, April 23 to Saturday, April 28 between the hours of 6 p.m. and midnight.
During the activities at Lionel Roberts Stadium, traffic will be restricted to a loop pattern. Vehicles traveling west on Pollyberg Hill will make a left turn at the traffic light, then a right turn onto Education Street and then a right onto Hospital Gade.
On Wednesday, April 25, traffic flow will not be allowed on the roads south or north of the Emancipation Garden to allow for easy traverse through the Food Fair. On Thursday, April 26, Veterans Drive will be closed from 4 a.m. until the end of Jouvert. On Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28th, no parking will be allowed on the parade route (Kronprindsens Gade, Main Street, Hospital Gade and Bgerge Gade) from 4 a.m. until the parades have concluded. Finally, during the race track activities on Friday, April 27, parking will only be allowed on the westbound lane. Vehicles parked inside the race track will have to make a left turn when exiting. No right turns will be permitted until the activity is over.
District Police Chief Milton Petersen Sr. wishes the entire community a safe and happy carnival. However he advises that we still must be mindful of the rules and regulations in place to ensure the safety of everyone. “While enjoying the festivities, let’s be considerate of each other,” Petersen says. “Together we can make this a safe and enjoyable Carnival 2007!”
Extended Bus Service
VITRAN, the public bus transportation system, will extend service on St. Thomas for people wanting to enjoy the late-night Carnival activities. People using the VITRAN Plus system can also make reservations for transportation during the carnival extended hours. Extended service will begin on Monday, April 23 and end on Saturday, April 28.
Extended bus service will include the following additional departure times from the bus depot in Estate Contant:
Donoe/Hidden Valley — 9:10 p.m., 11:10 p.m., 1:10 a.m.
Old/New Tutu — 9:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.
Bovoni — 9:05 p.m., 11:05 p.m., 1:05 a.m.
Bordeaux — Departure times are from the Roy L. Schneider Hospital at 8:00 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Red Hook via Four Winds — 9:10 p.m., 11:10 p.m., 1:10 a.m.
City — 1:30 a.m. (The city bus will run continuously around the city.)
Please contact the VITRAN Bus Terminal at (340) 774-5678 with any questions or concerns. A copy of the preceding bus schedule will be posted on VITRAN buses.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.