Happy New Year, everyone. KCBS Radio traffic reporter Bob "Major Timesaver" Pryor is back with 2019's first installment of his traffic tips for special events around the Bay Area. Don't forget to follow @KCBSAMFMTraffic on Twitter and Facebook for more news and information.
The 800-pound gorilla of weekend events, the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship, is dominating Bay Area travel and transit news this with lots of activities leading up to the game on Monday at 5pm in Levi's Stadium.
The weekend is chock full of football-related events and activities, many of them in Downtown San Jose, others as far away as Treasure Island. Meanwhile, the Warriors' Steph Curry is throwing a big party in Oakland on Friday, and Marin County winter sports aficionados can still get in some post-holiday ice skating.
Check out our information, advice, and links below to optimize your weekend travel plans and avoid those pesky surprises.
SOUTH BAY:
Mon, Jan 7 at 5pm: Levi's Stadium: 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship. University of Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Clemson University Tigers.
- Pro tip: CalTrain will operate special event service to provide pre- and post-game transit to Levi's Stadium via the Mountain View station. Customers can take CalTrain to the Mountain View station and transfer to VTA light rail for service to Levi's. VTA will be putting on extra service both before and after the game. Due to street closures and traffic congestion, all VTA ACE shuttles in the afternoon will make their stops 20 minutes earlier than their regularly scheduled times.
- Areas and roadways affected: Highways 101 and 237, I-880, Lawrence Expressway, Great America Parkway, San Tomas Expressway. Congestion impacts on VTA bus and light rail, CalTrain, Capitol Corridor.
Fri, Jan 4 (noon-6pm); Sat, Jan 5 (10am-6pm); Sun, Jan 6 (10am-6pm): San Jose: McEnery Convention Center hosts Playoff Fan Central, described as "a 300,000 square-foot interactive experience" that provides 3 days of family-friendly football events, including games, clinics, pep rallies, band performances, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history."
The Plaza de Cesar Chavez also becomes "The Quad," a free meeting place featuring deejays and a CFP merchandise store.
Also, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, from 6-11pm, Discovery Meadow Park hosts "AT&T Playoff List LIVE!", a free concert series, plus nightly fireworks. A performer list is here.
- Pro tip: A comprehensive list of "Championship Campus" venues and events can be found at https://www.bayarea2019.com/ChampCampus.
- Areas and roadways affected: All roadways in Downtown San Jose will be affected, along with parking availability, hence the strong recommendation for taking public transit.
Sun, Jan 6 at 8am: San Jose: Billed as "the official race for teachers end educators", the Extra Yard For Teachers 5K Run is a family-friendly 3.1 run/walk hosted in conjunction with the college football championship. The course starts at South Market and San Salvador Streets, goes through downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, and finishes at Cesar Chavez Plaza with a post-race tailgate party.
- Pro tip: There are plenty of parking garages in the downtown area. Nearest VTA station is Paseo De San Antonio/Convention Center.
- Areas and roadways affected: A comprehensive list of Sunday street closures and times can be found here.
EAST BAY:
Fri, Jan 4 from 7pm-11pm:Oakland's Fox Theater on Telegraph Ave will be the site of a "huge party" hosted by the Warriors' Steph Curry, intended to celebrate his 10 years in Oakland and the Warriors' final year at the Oracle Arena (before moving to San Francisco). Musical guests at the party will include E-40, Mistah F.A.B., Saweetie and P-Lo. The event is geared toward the youth of Oakland, so those wanting a ticket must have a valid high school or college student ID to get a ticket.
- Pro tip: The Fox Theater is a 2-minute walk from the 19th Street BART Station. Downtown Oakland is also accessible by many AC Transit routes, such as 12, 33, 72.
- Areas and roadways affected: In Oakland, Telegraph Ave at 19th Street and the general downtown area.
PENINSULA:
Fri, Jan 4 thru Mon, Jan 7: CalTrain will be running special event service this weekend to accommodate football fans attending Monday's aforementioned college football title game.
- Pro tip: Trains this weekend will be operating at all stations, including 22nd Street Station and the San Francisco Station at 4th and Townsend Streets (The normal Saturday-and-Sunday bus bridge for these two stations will resume next weekend). If you're going to the game on Monday, getting off at Mountain View and taking VTA light rail to the Great America Station is the preferred way to go. CalTrain has helpfully detailed its plans for extra service.
- Areas and roadways affected: Trains to/from San Jose and Santa Clara, along with, connecting transit services can be expected to be more heavily patronized than on a regular weekend.
SAN FRANCISCO:
Sun, Jan 6 from 6pm-9pm: Imagine Dragons performs a free, but ticketed concert on Treasure Island's Great Lawn on Sunday followed by their performance as the halftime act in the same venue during the college football championship game. hese shows are standing room only.
- Pro tip: Limited parking is available on Treasure Island. Organizers are encouraging carpooling with other attendees. Designated rideshare drop-off zones will also be in place. "Please note that since this is essentially a TV show, there is likely to be a lot of downtime." On the upside, Monday's performance is also a big-screen game-watch party.
- Areas and roadways affected: Access routes on and off the island are likely to be crowded, which is why the organizers strongly recommend an early arrival.
NORTH BAY/SOLANO:
Daily through Jan 21: At San Rafael's Northgate Mall: The ice rink has long hours (11am-10pm) on the weekends and there aren't many of those left in the season for this 6,400 square-foot expanse of ice.
- Pro tip: Skating costs $15 per person, which includes skate rental and all-day in-and-out privileges. If you're a novice skater, the rink even offers rentable ($5-an-hour) chair-like supports called "Skate Buddies" that will keep you from being as posteriorly bruised as Major Timesaver was in skatin days back in Paleolithic times.
- Areas and roadways affected: Minimal impact on Northgate Drive and LasGallinas Avenue on Terra Linda.
