This year’s LA Marathon will be held Sunday, February 14 to coincide with the Olympic trials taking place in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, February 13. Santa Monica will welcome 25,000 runners to our beachside community for the last three miles of the race.
Here is the information from the City that you need to make your Valentine’s Day a smooth one.
DOWNLOAD/VIEW THE MAP AND INFO PDF HERE
“We hope everyone has a fun and safe Valentine’s Day weekend,” Santa Monica City Council said. “Be mindful of traffic congestion and travel times.”
“If you see a suspicious person, object or vehicle along or near the race course, report the sighting to 9-1-1 or to law enforcement personnel,” the City said.
Street Closures
On Sunday, February 14, a number of street closures will be in effect to ensure the safety of the participants, spectators and residents.
The course enters Santa Monica at San Vicente Blvd. and 26th Street. The course will continue west on San Vicente Blvd. and turn south on Ocean Ave., heading for the finish line at Ocean Ave. and California Ave.
Please be aware that no traffic will be allowed to enter or cross the race course from 6am until police and public safety officials reopen the streets. In Santa Monica, this means traffic will not be able to enter or cross at any point along San Vicente Blvd. or on Ocean Ave. between San Vicente Blvd. and Colorado Ave.
Street closures will begin between 5am and 6am on February 14 and are expected to begin reopening at the east end of the City by 5pm and to be completely reopened by 9pm, at the sole discretion of the Santa Monica Police Department. Ocean Avenue may be closed near the finish line until 9pm.
The westbound lanes of San Vicente Blvd. will be open, however, all left turns are prohibited. The eastbound lanes of San Vicente Blvd. will be closed.
Ocean Avenue will be closed to all vehicle travel between San Vicente Blvd. and Colorado Ave.; advance signage will be installed to notify motorists of the roadway closure at Colorado Ave. The California Incline will be closed.
Southbound 2nd St will be closed between Wilshire Blvd and Colorado Ave. Northbound traffic will not be permitted to turn right at each intersection beginning at 6am. As traffic increases, motorist will be pushed east towards Lincoln Blvd. to access the Santa Monica Freeway.
Northbound 5th St. will have left turn restrictions between Colorado Ave. and Arizona Ave. All traffic will be directed to Wilshire Blvd. and 4th St. to access the parking garages.
Main Street will be closed between Pico Boulevard and Colorado Avenue all day for shuttle bus loading.
Runner Pick-Up
A designated runner pick-up area is available along the east side of 5th St. between Colorado and Wilshire. From I-10 westbound, exit Lincoln Blvd. or 4th/5th St, and turn left. Turn right on Pico Blvd and right on Ocean Ave. Access I-10 east via Olympic Dr.
To pick up a marathon runner, from I-10 westbound, exit Lincoln Blvd. or 4th/5th St, and follow signs and traffic service officers to available parking. Park your vehicle and meet your runner(s) at your pre-identified meeting point.
Several helicopters will be tracking the race for news media and public safety purposes. They are expected to enter Santa Monica at approximately 8:45am-9:15am
Biking
Bike Valet Info
Enjoy free bike valet service for the Marathon from 6:30am till 4:30pm at Ocean Avenue in front of Tongva Park. The Bike Center (2nd and Colorado) will also have bike valet from 8am till 8pm The first 2 hours at the Bike Center are free, $1 per hour after that.
Bike Access:
• Sorry, bikes will not be allowed on the race route (Ocean Ave. and San Vicente Blvd.)
• Intersection at Ocean Ave. and Colorado Ave. is closed to car and bike traffic but open to pedestrians.
• Main St. between Pico Blvd. and Colorado Ave. will be open to bikes (even though it is closed to cars).
• Bikes can cross intersection at Ocean Ave. and Pico Blvd.
• Riders are encouraged to use the following streets:
• From north to south towards downtown: 5th, 6th or 7th Streets.
• From east to west towards downtown: Washington Ave., California Ave., Arizona Ave. or Ocean Park Blvd.
• From south to north towards downtown: Main St., Ocean Ave
Bus & Transit
Big Blue Bus
Riders should allow extra time for travel. On race day, Sunday, February 14, buses will run only as far west as 11th St. Riders can expect normal Sunday operations within Santa Monica to resume by approximately 8pm, and normal Sunday bus service to areas outside of Santa Monica by about 4pm.
All routes that operate on Sundays will be in service with the exception of Route 9 which will not be in service the entire day.
Free Shuttle
BBB will provide a courtesy shuttle traveling in a one directional loop to/from the main Bus Hub located on 11th St. and Olympic Blvd. From the Bus Hub, the shuttle will travel north on 11th St. to Santa Monica Blvd., west to 6th St., east on Broadway to 11th St., and head back to Olympic Blvd. from approximately 6am to 6pm Shuttle will run approximately every 15 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
• For riders/employees coming to Downtown Santa Monica
Your bus will drop you off along 11th St. and come to a final stop at the main Bus Hub on 11th St. and Olympic Blvd. You can then walk downtown or catch the complimentary BBB shuttle, which will bring you as far west as 6th St. Look for signs that will tell you the shuttle boarding locations.
• For riders/employees leaving Downtown Santa Monica
You can catch the complimentary shuttle on 6th St. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Broadway to the main Bus Hub on 11th St. at Olympic Blvd. or walk there, where you can catch most buses leaving Santa Monica, including Metro lines 534, 704 or 720. Metro will also offer a complimentary shuttle from the Bus Hub to Expo Culver City Station for riders traveling to Downtown LA.
Trip Planning Assistance
Customer Service Representatives will be available from 12pm – 6pm before race day (Saturday, February 13) and 7am – 3pm on race day at 310.451.5444.
For live service updates on race day, please visit smgov.net/lamarathon.
Parking
Need Parking for the 2016 LA Marathon? Download the ParkMe app for iPhone at www.ParkMe.com. Additionally (and for Android users), the city’s popular, real-time parking maps are mobile formatted at www.smgov.net/parking.
Before 6am
Runners who do not have prepaid parking passes may park in any Civic Center location or South Beach Lot 4 for $25.
All Shuttle Buses to Dodger Stadium depart from Main Street between Pico Boulevard and Olympic Drive. You must walk to the Shuttle Bus loading area. Shuttles begin trips to DTLA at 3am The last shuttle to the race start leaves at 6am
• Beach Lot 1N (1550 Pacific Coast Highway) will remain open for $20 flat rate.
From 6am to 4pm
• Downtown Structures: $2 every 30 minutes, $20 maximum
• Downtown Lots: $15 flat rate
• Civic Center: $10 flat rate (after 6am)
• Beach Lots (north and south of Pier) $10 flat rate
• Beach Lot 1N (1550 Pacific Coast Highway) $15 flat rate
• Pier Deck Parking will be closed.
After 4pm
After 4pm on February 14, all city parking rates revert back to the normal, non-event rates .
• No free Main Street Farmers Market parking in the beach lots on February 14.
