If you are racing in the Polar Dash you have two options for parking and transportation this year:
- Free residential/on-street parking in the neighborhood
- Take advantage of our off-site parking and warm Yellow "Limo" service! (click on map at right for larger view)
Polar Dash's Off-Site Parking and Yellow "Limo" Service:
Team Ortho Foundation is excited to tell you about our WARM race transportation service for the Polar Dash on January 1, 2012! Reserve your spot in the parking lots near Franklin Avenue and Highway 280, then use your shuttle ticket to ride on our Toasty Yellow "Limos". Dropoff will be one block from Polar Dash race village.
There is a $7.00 fee for parking. The number of parking spaces is limited and we ask that you do your best to carpool. These parking passes will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. If you pre-ordered your parking passes, you will pick them up during packet pick-up. *Note: If you haven't prepaid for parking and are hoping to park at our off-site location on race day, please know there is no guarantee there will be parking available as it could be filled with pre-paid racers. But if we do have space open the race day parking fee will be $10. You can still prepay for parking at packet pick-up for $7.
How will the "Limo" work?
Before the race: There will be a tent at the "Limo" pickup/dropoff area just south of Franklin on Eustis (which runs parallel to Highway 280). The first "Limo" will leave for the race site when it is full, at approximately 8:00 a.m. You will be dropped off on East River Parkway near Shriners Hospital for Children to prepare for your race.
If you want to get to the race on time, you must be parked and to the pick-up area by 9:00 a.m. Final "Limo" leaves for the race at 10:00 a.m. There will be a race-day bag drop/pick-up. Please wear/bring warm clothes and check a bag during your race.
After the race: "Limos" will line up along East River Parkway to pick up participants. The pick-up location is easily visible from the finish line and race village. Once a "Limo" is full, it will depart for the parking lot drop-off area.
Please note: this is an optional service, because participants have free on-street parking in the area neighborhoods.
Metro Transit Bus Service
Please see Metro Transit's website for information on times and schedules for Sunday, January 1st, 2012. There will be no Yellow "Limo" access to mass transit riders.
On-street, residential parking
There is on-street, residential parking in the neighborhoods to the south and northeast of the start/finish area. There will be no access to residential areas for parking west of I-94 but north of Shriners. Those roads will be closed. If you arrive to available on-street parking areas early you will get a closer spot and can stay warm in our heated area in race village*. The later you arrive, the farther away you may have to park and could result in a healthy, pre-race warm up run for you.
Please be sure you observe any parking restrictions, including those that may come into play due to snow. For information on St. Paul snow emergencies click here. For information on Minneapolis snow emergencies click here. Team Ortho Foundation is not responsible for any parking tickets or towing fees incurred during this event. There will be no Yellow "Limo" access to on-street parking.
Racer Drop-off Area (and other vehicle access to race area)
Caution, several roads will be closed for the event during prime parking time. There will be NO ACCESS to Shriners Hospital from East Franklin after 9:15 a.m. If you are dropping off a racer, please do so before 9:15 and drop off along East River Road in front of Shriners Hospital. Please do not use the driveways at Shriners they will not be accessible. Please look at the course map and parking & transportation to determine the best way to navigate to get to your destination.
*Please note participants and spectators, there will be no access to the inside of Shriners Hospital. We will have an outdoor heated area for participants as they await the start. Please bring coats and feel free to use our bag check as needed on race day.
Click on map below for larger view or to print parking and transportation options.
