Now a month after the wrap-up of a record run of the New York State Fair, wonderful memories of a dazzling 13 days are tainted somewhat by backed-up traffic leading to bulging parking lots creating headaches at peak times.
You sure can’t criticize Fair management for doing all they can to attract as many patrons as possible. Certainly every vendor on the grounds wants to see as many potential customers as they can get. While the recently-expanded grounds can handle having 100,000-plus attend, it’s increasingly clear that the parking lots have their limits and that exceeding those limits creates significant pain for those attending the Fair. 
The Willis Avenue lot was added to ease the crunch. It’s a good idea to add spaces, but Willis Ave. is a two-lane street with one entrance to the lot, so you have to expect backed up traffic on busy days. And since it’s a mile from the main gate, they needed to shuttle patrons down the boulevard to gate 6, about 1 1/2 miles away, thus adding to the crush passing the gates. Adding another access point to the lot would be a great idea, if it’s possible.
Speaking of gate 6, buses entering there from the orange lot or the off-site lots drove down to the new drop-off spot, which was something less than a resounding success this year. But remember that it was the first year for a new system, one designed to increase safety. 
File it under the heading of growing pains and hope for future improvement after some adjustments.
Improved efficiency of parking staff would help and more parking space is certainly needed as lots sometimes reached capacity, making for a disastrous situation. There may be ways to increase the number of lots as Willis Avenue did this year.
Where and how are the big questions, but we have to hope something can be worked out. .
Leave a Reply