Lyft drivers, Riverwalk, hospital beds, Marcus Center: Answers to your RNC questions
You asked, we got answers.
We asked readers what they were still wondering before the Republican National Convention kicks off next week.
Some of the questions were similar, like how drivers who work for rideshare services like Uber or Lyft should navigate the security zone. Others asked whether a specific business downtown will still be open to the public.
And some were more unique things that we haven't delved into yet, like how hospitals are preparing for an influx of visitors in Milwaukee.
Here's what we found.
When is the RNC?
The RNC runs from Monday, July 15, through Thursday, July 18. Most of the primetime action will happen at Fiserv Forum in the evening, and delegates can spend time at Convention Fest or at other events in the city during the day.
But some of the action will start even before Monday, and some of it has already happened behind the scenes.
About 15,000 guests from state delegations and partner organizations are expected to attend a "Red, White and Brew" welcome party Sunday evening at Henry Maier Festival Park. On July 8, a week before the convention, members of the platform committee held a closed meeting at the Baird Center to draft the party platform.
More: Republican National Convention releases official events schedule for delegates and guests
Is there a designated pick-up and drop-off area for rideshare drivers at the RNC? How close can Uber, Lyft drivers get to the RNC perimeter?
There are two security zones to keep in mind. The "hard zone" in red on the map is only open to delegates, media, volunteers and others with pre-approved credentials. That means taxis, rideshares and food delivery services will not be allowed to enter that area.
That zone includes the main convention venues like Fiserv Forum and the Baird Center, so drivers will not be able to drop off delegates directly at those locations. Attendees are asked to use designated drop-off areas that will be marked on their maps.
Rideshare, taxi or food delivery drivers can access locations within the "vehicle screening perimeter" in yellow, but they will have to go through a checkpoint first.
Those checkpoints are marked with black circles on the map. Not all areas in that zone are available from each checkpoint, so go to the checkpoint closest to your drop-off or pick-up location.
Vehicle screening checkpoints are located at:
West Winnebago and North 9th streets
West Vliet and North 6th streets
West Wells and North 9th streets
West State and North Water streets
West Michigan Street and North Plankington Avenue
More: What parts of downtown Milwaukee are restricted, closed to general public during RNC?
Will Marcus Performing Arts Center be closed to the public during the RNC, and will their parking garage be open?
The Marcus Center Box Office will be open by phone only, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticketing windows will be closed, communications and media relations manager Jennifer Han said in an email Sunday.
The Marcus Performing Arts Center was planning to host Comedy Central's "The Daily Show: Indecision 2024," but the show canceled its plans to air from Milwaukee. Monday's show is canceled altogether, and shows will broadcast from New York City Tuesday through Thursday.
The venue is also hosting Virginia's delegation party late Tuesday evening, but it won't affect building hours, Han said.
The Marcus Performing Arts Center's parking structure will be available for parking during the RNC from about 6 a.m. until 1 a.m. each day. Due to a security checkpoint on State Street, entrance is only accessible from Edison Street or Water Street.
Is North Ninth Street a boundary of the hard security zone? Is the entrance and parking lot of St. Ben's affected?
North 9th Street is a boundary of the "vehicle screening perimeter," or the yellow zone on the map. But that's not the southern boundary or part of the hard zone, as a reader asked.
North 9th Street is the boundary to the west, while Clybourn Street is the boundary to the south. West Cherry Street is the northern border, and the Milwaukee River is the eastern border. Keep in mind that's a broader area than the credentials-only zone in red.
St. Ben's parking lot is on the edge of the "vehicle screening perimeter." The credentials-only, hard zone is just a block away.
“At this point, we believe the parking lot will be accessible, but ultimately we will follow the lead of the Secret Service and law enforcement," Capuchin Community Services spokesman Brian Knox said.
Are hospitals reserving emergency room or inpatient beds in preparation for an influx of RNC visitors?
The Journal Sentinel reached out to a few local hospital systems to answer this question. Two answered and confirmed they are conducting emergency preparedness drills and are ready to receive and care for patients.
Froedtert Hospital, which is the Milwaukee area's only Level One trauma center, is "prepared to handle an influx of patients during the RNC in a safe and secure setting," a spokeswoman said.
The emergency department and trauma center will "remain fully operational to meet the needs of the community throughout the RNC," she said.
Ascension Wisconsin "is prepared to receive and care for patients during the RNC as we always do," a spokesperson said. "Our Milwaukee area care teams are prepared for the potential of increased volume and Emergency Response teams have conducted preparation exercises."Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin said it's working closely with local leaders, law enforcement and first responders, and Ascension said it will participate in daily briefings with area hospitals and the Secret Service.
Will Quality Optical be open during the RNC so I can pick up my glasses?
The plan is to stay open, Quality Optical owner Penny Zaworski confirmed in a phone call Wednesday afternoon, "but if none of our customers can get through, we may not work the full week."
If there are any changes, customers who call the business should be able to reach her cell phone next week, Zaworski said.
Zaworski said Quality Optical is "already impacted now." Parking meters were covered up on July 5, she said, though the city said those streets would have restrictions beginning July 8. At first, the city was issuing tickets, but now they're towing vehicles, she said.
Quality Optical is located at the corner of West Wells Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly Old World 3rd Street). That places them in zone where pedestrians can enter freely, but vehicles must go through a checkpoint.
More: When and where street parking will be prohibited for the RNC in downtown Milwaukee
Will Lake Drive be open to traffic during the RNC?
North Lake Drive, which runs along Lake Michigan on Milwaukee's northeast side, is far enough from the security perimeter that it won't close because of the RNC. That road isn't mentioned on the Department of Public Works' street closures list for the RNC.
With that being said, expect traffic in Milwaukee to be heavier than normal, especially as you get closer to downtown next week.
More: Here's which streets will be closed during the Republican National Convention and when
Can we still visit restaurants along the Riverwalk during the RNC?
The Riverwalk will only be closed at Pere Marquette Park, which is part of the credentials-only zone. Other parts will be open — the Riverwalk stretches from Humboldt Avenue to the north to the Historic Third Ward to the south.
Parts of the Riverwalk on the east bank of the river shouldn't be affected by security zones at all. But it's a good idea to look at the perimeter map to determine whether you can get to a certain business or restaurant, on the Riverwalk or elsewhere.
Parts of the river itself — from Cherry Street to Michigan Street — will be closed to boat traffic. Road bridges in this area will remain down during the convention.
More: Will boats be allowed on the Milwaukee River during the RNC? What about Edelweiss boat tours?
More: Here are 14 waterfront patios in Milwaukee to enjoy when the weather allows
Still have questions? Let us know using this form.
Let us know if you still have questions about the RNC. We'll be accepting them from readers until 5 p.m. Friday.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Answers to your questions about how the RNC will impact Milwaukee
