Thursday, December 5, 2013

PGPD Managing Holiday Traffic at Tanger Outlets

It’s the time of year that shoppers flock to the stores.  Just in time for this holiday shopping season, the new Tanger Outlets at National Harbor opened its doors and as expected, is drawing healthy crowds.  The Prince George's County Police Department is working to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in and around the outlets.  Since opening day, our Special Operations Division has detailed officers to guide shoppers, residents and commuters safely to their destinations.  The PGPD Media Relations Division has been providing real time traffic updates via social media in an effort dubbed #OperationOutlets.  Those traffic updates will continue, when warranted, through the holiday season.

The PGPD is working to ensure that, to the extent possible, the inaugural season of the outlets is successful while not negatively impacting longstanding members of our community. Since the Tanger Outlets opened, there have been no more than four detours, each of which lasted approximately 15 minutes. When the main parking lot is full at the outlets, the PGPD reroutes drivers from Oxon Hill Road down National Avenue and around to Harborview Avenue to get them to secondary parking locations.  If residents are trying to get to their homes as this is happening, we ask that they let us know they’re a resident. The officers are instructed to accommodate their request and allow them to pass through.  If traffic is congested on Oxon Hill Rd., which may be the case at select times during the shopping season, it may be easier for residents to follow police direction taking them from National Avenue onto Harborview Avenue

Here are a few other suggestions to help you either make your way to the outlets, to work, or wherever you need to go:

From Maryland: take Exit 3 from I-495 W to get to Tanger Outlets. This is the most direct route.

From Virginia: take Exit 3A and follow signs to Tanger Blvd.

Follow highways signs and mobile electronic message signs for guidance.

Tanger Outlets is close to a residential neighborhood. Be advised, if shoppers park there, they could be ticketed and/or towed.

We expect traffic patterns to change once the holiday shopping season winds down. In the meantime, we’re pleased to provide shoppers in Prince George’s County unprecedented traffic assistance as drivers come out to explore this new shopping center at the National Harbor.

For more information, please contact the Prince George's County Police Department's Media Relations Division at 301-772-4710.

No comments:

Blog Archive