Transportation

“No city can manage Olympic transport demands without implementing changes — it cannot be business as usual.” — Paul Willoughby, director, Corporate Affairs, Olympic Roads and Transport Authority, Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games

With tens of thousands expected to attend the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games, transporting athletes, workforce, media, International Olympic Committee members, international sports officials, sponsors and spectators efficiently and safely to and from venues, and within Vancouver and Whistler itself, is a monumental task.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC’s) Games-time transportation strategy is based on our sustainable transportation guidelines, which promote walking, cycling, the use of public transportation and carpooling in combination with an aggressive traffic demand management program. In order to accomplish this goal, a multi-jurisdictional traffic management plan will be developed in conjunction with a comprehensive public information program.

Metro Vancouver has more than 6,000 park-and-ride spaces operating in conjunction with public transit services. This parking capacity will be augmented to provide ample park-and-ride opportunities for spectators and workforce as venue-based parking will be restricted to accommodate operational functions at Games time.

 The Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) was launched in early 2008 as a platform for cooperation between VANOC and its provincial, municipal and public transit partners: Ministry of Transportation, City of Vancouver, Resort Municipality of Whistler, TransLink, BC Transit, and the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit. The main purpose of the OPTT is to plan and execute an integrated transportation program for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games that will meet the service expectations of Games-time visitors and regional residents, while creating a foundation for long-term technological, social and environmental legacies.

In addition to the expertise of the OPTT, VANOC contracted Bunt and Associates to conduct an analysis of the Metro Vancouver area, Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor to forecast how Games-time vehicle and pedestrian traffic flows will interact with existing traffic. The information collected from this analysis is incorporated in VANOC transportation recommendations, which outline basic planning for key roads, streets, loading zones and general parking areas.

Working with our partners, VANOC strives to create an accessible, safe and efficient transportation plan to enhance the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games experience for everyone.