Tulsa, OK – In an effort to lessen problems for residents of neighborhoods near Expo Square and ensure that streets remain clear and passable for emergency vehicles, Tulsa Police and Working In Neighborhoods personnel will patrol streets near Expo Square throughout the 11-day Tulsa State Fair, Oct. 1 through Oct. 11, to enforce parking and zoning ordinances and nuisance codes.
Each year during the fair, the City of Tulsa gets increased calls about blocked streets and alleys, illegal parking in yards and on sidewalks and in marked "no parking" areas on streets. Complaints also are received about area residents who conduct unlicensed businesses by selling parking in yards.
In order to maintain access to homes and driveways for area residents, to keep streets open for emergency vehicles, and to prevent unnecessary traffic congestion, ordinances pertaining to parking will be strictly enforced during the fair.
Residential streets near the fairgrounds have signs displayed, usually along one side of the street, that say, "NO PARKING DURING EVENTS." Parking is prohibited within 10 feet of a fire hydrant. Parking also is prohibited in yards and between curbs and sidewalks.
Fair organizers and the City of Tulsa have worked together to provide alternative parking sites and free shuttle transport between the sites and the fairgrounds.
In addition to the free parking available on the fairgrounds property, there are five remote sites with free Park and Ride shuttle service provided by Transportation Solutions (TranSol). The free Park and Ride is only available on weekends. Those sites include:
Tulsa Promenade Mall: 41st Street and Yale Avenue, south covered parking garage
Hale High School, 6960 E. 21st St.
Tulsa Public Schools Education Service Center: 3027 S. New Haven Ave.
Broken Arrow Centennial Middle School, 225 E. Omaha St.
Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache St.
The shuttles are scheduled to run both weekends - Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11. The hours are set to start at 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. on Saturday, and noon on Sundays. Shuttles will run through midnight each day except Sunday, when they will stop at 11 p.m. Frequency will vary by location ranging from every 15 minutes to 30 minutes.
Tulsa Police Department will enforce on-street parking ordinances near the fairgrounds and the City's Working In Neighborhoods Department will enforce ordinances governing off-street parking as needed.
Illegal parking can result in fines ranging from $15 to $50. Illegally parked vehicles can be towed at the owner's expense if parked in areas marked with "Tow Away Zone" signs or if they are obstructing normal traffic flow.
Illegal parking in yards during the fair can result in fines beginning at $50 for the vehicle owner and up to $500 to the property owner providing the parking space.