El Cinco De Mayo 2008
CINCO DE MAYO COMMUNITY NOTIFICATION
The Cinco de Mayo holiday weekend is May 2-5, 2008. Please be prepared for heavy traffic volume, delays and possible traffic diversion re-routing on and along Federal Boulevard, from West 38th Avenue to West Florida Avenue. For the past several years, people have come to Denver for one of the nation’s largest celebrations, which commemorates a battle that took place in the City of Puebla, Mexico, in 1862. The holiday honors the unyielding spirit and quest for freedom by Mexican citizens from an oppressive invader and was first celebrated in the City of Puebla only.
In recent years, however, Latinos and non-Latinos from across the United States have embraced this holiday to make it their own. The City and County of Denver hosts a variety of related events. NEWSED Community Development Corporation and the Santa Fe Drive Redevelopment Organization sponsor a family festival at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. The event is among the three largest festivals held in the entire United States. This family celebration typically attracts as many as 400,000 people.
An activity related to the festival has been the spontaneous cruising along Federal Boulevard by thousands of metro area residents and out-of-state visitors. In past years, the sudden and enormous influx of vehicles and people have resulted in a serious disruptions to normal traffic patterns.
The Denver Police Department has meet with both public and private stakeholders to plan for this celebration. The result of these meetings has been the creation of a traffic plan that officials believe will maximize safety and relieve traffic congestion. Cruising usually runs most of the length of Federal Boulevard through the City and County of Denver. To reduce the impact of traffic in the neighborhoods, access to side streets will be limited to neighborhood residents only. Residents should contact officers posted at intersections to take side streets across Federal to go to their homes .
If the officer is engaged in a police action, residents should attempt to contact another officer at a nearby intersection. Traffic will be allow to cross Federal Boulevard, without restriction, until traffic congestion becomes so great that intervention becomes necessary.
The Police Department’s traffic plan will operate in two phases:
1. Phase 1 will permit traffic flow along Federal Boulevard without restriction. Police will be posted along Federal Boulevard to monitor traffic volume.
2. Phase 2 will be implemented if the volume of traffic starts to adversely affect normal traffic patterns and the ability of emergency vehicles to go where needed. Barricades will be placed restricting access to side streets to minimize the impact on residents in neighborhoods in the Federal Boulevard Corridor. Once this occurs, east and west traffic across Federal Boulevard will be restricted and residents can cross Federal only at the following intersections between
West 38th Avenue and West Florida Avenue.
· Florida Avenue
· Mississippi Avenue
· Alameda Avenue
· 6th Avenue
· 10th Avenue
· 23rd Avenue
· Speer Boulevard
· 38th Avenue
Additionally, traffic will be diverted from Federal Boulevard at pre-designated points to relive the congestion. Cruisers will have to drive well out of the area before they will be able to access streets on which to return to Federal Boulevard. Traffic violations that pose a serious safety risk to celebrants, other motorists and spectators will be strictly enforced. Noise ordinance violations will also be enforced. Curfew for minors is midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 p.m. on Sundays. Curfew violations will also be strictly enforced.