RNC Set To Begin In Uptown Charlotte: What You Need To Know

CHARLOTTE, NC — After months of questions regarding Charlotte's role in the upcoming Republican National Convention, a scaled down event is set to kick off in the Queen City Friday, culminating in the renomination of President Donald Trump early next week.

The event will lead to potential delays and detours for area residents, police warned Wednesday.

Suffice it to say, the RNC event taking place in the days ahead in Charlotte will look nothing like that organizers and city officials envisioned when planning began nearly two years ago.

President Donald Trump abruptly announced this summer he would pull the RNC from North Carolina over a dispute about coronavirus restrictions. In June, existing contracts kept the RNC business meetings tethered to Charlotte, but the party said showcase events, such as an arena event planned for the moment Trump accepted his renomination, would be moved to Florida. Those plans, however, were later cancelled due to coronavirus concerns as well. Late last month, Trump said he would accept the presidential nomination in North Carolina after all, but within days of that announcement, that too changed.

As of Tuesday, Trump's formal acceptance of the Republican nomination would take place remotely from the South Lawn at the White House, USA Today reported.

In Charlotte, police are planning for a drastically scaled down event with 336 delegates in attendance, plus their guests, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Maj. Steve Brochu, who has been involved in planning and logistics for the event.

The event will begin Friday, Aug. 21 and will run through Monday, Aug. 24, Brochu said.

"Monday has been designated by Homeland Security as the actual national special security event," he said. CMPD will set up a command center to run Friday through Monday, and are increasing staffing to minimize disruption to regular police services, he said.

Police do not yet have an estimate for potential crowds near the event, however, "we do not expect to see a lot at this point," he said.

Here is what you need to know about anticipated road closures and travel disruptions related to the RNC event set for Monday, Aug. 24, according to RNC Security:

ROAD CLOSURES
All road closures will be in effect at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, and lifted no later than 6 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25. Commuters and residents can anticipate travel impacts beginning at 6 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 23. Closures will be conducted by CMPD and the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT). The implementation of closures will be staggered based on the progress of the work teams in placing equipment. Limited authorized vehicles include Law Enforcement & Public Safety vehicles.
Closures include:

• Southbound I-277 exit ramp onto S. College Street
• College Street between W. Morehead Street and E. Hill Street
• College Street between the Westin Hotel and 3rd Street
• Brevard Street between E. Stonewall Street and 3rd Street
• Stonewall Street between the Harvey Gant Building and S. Caldwell Street
• Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. from the middle of the block of MLK Blvd. (between S. Tryon Street & S. College Street) and S. Caldwell Street
• All alleyways and internal roadways within the above defined area
• Roads not affected by travel restrictions include Interstate-277 lanes in both directions, as well as the on-ramp to I-277 North from South Boulevard/South Caldwell Street; South Caldwell Street in both directions and South Church Street.

RESTRICTED PARKING ZONES
All road closure areas listed above and other affected areas will be posted with “Emergency No Parking” signage beginning on Friday, Aug. 21. Missing vehicles can be confirmed as towed or stolen by calling the City 311 phone line or at charlottenc.gov/HNS/CharMeck311. Vehicular parking restrictions will be coordinated and enforced by the CMPD and CDOT.

LOCAL TRAVEL ACCESS/ CHECKPOINTS

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, three vehicular checkpoints will be established for all local traffic after being screened and searched. “Local Traffic” includes delegates, RNC staff and guests, residents, employees, business patrons, food delivery services, ride shares, taxis, Uber, Lyft, and repair services. All other vehicles will be turned away. Businesses in the secure perimeter and area surrounding, if allowed by state COVID regulations, will remain open but have the option of voluntarily closing during the RNC. All exiting traffic should return to the same checkpoint used to enter.

• Checkpoint #1 – S. Tryon Street at W. Morehead Street (near blue area on map)

Access to Tryon Street, the Westin Hotel, Regions Bank building (615 S. College Street) and parking garages on Stonewall Street (between Tryon and the Harvey Gantt Center), MLK Boulevard and “The Green” will be facilitated through this security checkpoint. Businesses and eateries on “The Green” will be accessible by foot only from the S.Tryon Street sidewalk.

• Checkpoint #2 – S. Caldwell Street at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Parking Garage (near yellow area on map)

Access to the NASCAR Tower parking garage will be for tenants only. Businesses in this area will be open if allowed by State COVID Regulations and will be accessible by foot as well.

• Checkpoint #3 – S. Caldwell Street at South Boulevard (near green area on map)

Access to the Novel Stonewall Station Apartments for residents and guests and patrons of the Whole Foods Market, Home 2 Suites and related business in this location can access the parking garage from South Boulevard only. All other vehicular access points will be closed. Businesses in this area will be open and are accessible by foot from the intersection of S. Caldwell Street and E. Stonewall Street as well.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Lynx Light Rail: Lynx service will be modified beginning at 5:15 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 23, until 5:15 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25. Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) will be closing all tracks on the Blue Line between the Carson station and 7th Street station. The Carson and & 7th Street stations will remain open, with only the MLK/Convention Center and Trade Street stations closed. All other stations remain open. A bus bridge will be provided for through riders between the Carson Street and 7th Street stations.

Buses: No bus service will be allowed inside the secure perimeter. Please check the CATS website for additional route changes.

Airspace: An interagency airspace security plan will be implemented to provide secure airspace over the Charlotte metropolitan area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has designated the Charlotte Area as a “No Drone Zone” and will implement Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24. The enhanced airspace restrictions can be accessed online here. Pilots are advised to check Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) frequently for possible changes prior to operating in the Charlotte area. Pilots are strongly advised to contact a Flight Service Station at (800) 992-7433 prior to flight to check for all current NOTAMs.

SEE ALSO:

• Aerial Radiation Measurements Planned For Charlotte Ahead Of RNC