You can drive to and park at the NFL Draft, but local leaders really don't want you to.

Why it matters: When Pittsburgh hosts the draft April 23-25, hundreds of thousands of people will converge on the North Shore and Downtown.

Driving the news: Local leaders unveiled their regional transportation plan for the NFL Draft yesterday, and one message came through: Avoid driving if you can.

• "Do not drive that week. Let us get you there," said Pittsburgh Regional Transit CEO Katharine Kelleman.

Download the NFL OnePass app to be kept up to date on all transit-related issues.

Public transit

PRT will add four Football Flyer temporary routes with limited stops to help get people from the suburbs to the North Shore easily.

• They pick up from park-and-ride locations in McCandless, the Monroeville Mall, Moon and Jefferson Hills.
• Riders pay the standard fare of $2.75 each way, or can buy daily or weekly passes.

Light-rail, aka the T, will run every 15 minutes on Red and Blue lines on Thursday and Friday.

• T service between Downtown and the North Side is free, like always.

Road closures

A series of rolling road closures start this Saturday to prepare North Shore and Downtown to boost the walkability and "festival like environment" of the draft, said Visit Pittsburgh CEO Jerad Bachar.

• Phase 1 runs Saturday through April 12 and is similar to road closures for a Steelers game.
• Phase 2 (April 13-April 21) closes roads around Acrisure, but leaders said they'll be open during Pirates games.

Walking

The pedestrian path on Fort Duquesne Bridge — which directly connects the North Shore to Point State Park — will be closed during the draft for safety reasons, said Bachar.

• To accommodate the large pedestrian crowds, the Roberto Clemente Bridge will be closed to vehicles during the draft.

What's next: The NFL will announce designated Uber and Lyft pickup and dropoff locations closer to the draft.

Parking tips

The Pirates are starting a new season, and it's time to hurt again.

Why it matters: The Buccos haven't made the postseason since 2015, the second-longest active drought in the MLB behind the Angels, but they might make it this year.

The big picture: The Pirates kick off the season against the Mets today in New York City.

• Prognosticators say the Bucs could stay competitive throughout the year thanks to a few new bats.

Catch up quick: Veteran first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna joined the team in the offseason and should bring some needed power to the lineup.

• Fan favorite Andrew McCutchen decamped for the Texas Rangers.
• Oneil Cruz and All-Star Bryan Reynolds return from down years.

State of play: Pitching will be the Pirates' bread and butter.

• Superstar Paul Skenes is coming off a Cy Young season and is the frontrunner to win again this year.

Between the lines: The Pirates scored the fewest runs in baseball last season.

• If the team can improve even mildly at run production, the Buccos should have a shot at a postseason spot, according to Dawn Klemish of MLB.com.

How to watch: NBC is broadcasting today's game. Former Pirate and Pittsburgh-area native Neil Walker will be on the broadcast.

• First pitch is 1:15pm.
• Listen to the broadcast on 93.7FM The Fan.

What's next: The Bucs return to PNC Park on April 3 for their home opener against the Orioles.

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Pittsburghers will rally Saturday alongside millions of Americans in a new wave of "No Kings" protests.

Why it matters: Thousands are expected to take to the streets to denounce the Trump administration's policies, from ICE's growing presence to concerns about the Iran war pushing prices higher.

The big picture: Organizers expect the nationwide demonstrations to surpass last year's "No Kings" rallies in June and October.

• More than 3,000 events are planned nationwide.

State of play: At least three "No Kings" protests are planned in Pittsburgh on Saturday — at Downtown's City-County Building from 12:30pm-2:30pm, in Shadyside from 5pm-6pm and on the North Side from 1pm-3pm.

• Roughly a dozen more are planned across the region, including in Mt. Lebanon, Penn Hills, McCandless, Greensburg, Sewickley, Beaver, Washington and more.
• The Quaker Valley Democratic Organization, which launched a singing resistance group after a training with Minnesota's Singing Resistance, will lead songs at Sewickley's rally.

The bottom line: Watch for possible road closures and traffic delays.

Zoom out

⛽ The Iran war continues to drive Pittsburgh's sharp gas price spike, with the metro average for regular gas hitting $3.96 per gallon yesterday. That's up 71 cents from last month, per AAA.

🥾 Airbnb reports new interest in rural Pennsylvania travel, naming Pine Creek Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, among lesser-known U.S. destinations seeing a rise in tourism. (Airbnb)

👋 Say goodbye to the city's salt dome (and eyesore) on Saw Mill Run Boulevard. City workers began tearing it down yesterday. A replacement is in the works. (X)

Friday

Shop handmade goods from over 100 artists at Handmade Arcade's Modern Craft Market through Sunday.

• 📍David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown
• ⏰ Times vary
• 💰Pay what you can

Grab tickets to see Cody Rhodes at WWE Smackdown at PPG Paints Arena.

• 📍1001 Fifth Ave., Lower Hill
• ⏰ 7:30pm
• 💰$40+

Saturday

Take in vibrant blooms at Phipps' Spring Flower Show: True Colors, which runs through April 26.

• 📍1 Schenley Drive, Oakland
• ⏰ 9:30am-5pm
• 💰Included with admission ($22.95 per adult)

Hop over to the National Aviary's Eggstravaganza for visits with the Easter Bunny and a scavenger hunt.

• 📍700 Arch St., North Side
• ⏰ 10:30am-3pm
• 💰Included with admission ($20.95 per adult)