Vancouver (Reuters) - The organizers of next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver revealed their final transportation plan on Wednesday, stating they are confident residents will help prevent traffic jams for athletes and visitors. The organizers mentioned they also learned a lesson from Salt Lake City, which asked locals to stay off the roads during the 2002 Winter Games, depriving many retailers of customers. They emphasized that Vancouver businesses will remain open for regular clients even as the massive event unfolds.
Vancouver is the largest city ever to host the Winter Games, and since competitions will take place at various locations around the city and at the Whistler Mountain Resort, 125 km (78 miles) away, transportation is considered a key concern for planners. Transportation has the potential to be a weak point, and they wish to reduce Vancouver's vehicle traffic by 30 percent to avoid downtown congestion during peak times.
Residents and visitors often dealing with crowded areas will need to use public transport to reach all Olympic events, including the opening and closing ceremonies. The games start on February 12. "Based on the feedback we receive, that 30 percent reduction is not at risk; we just have to get the word out," said Terry Wright, the Vice President of Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Games Operations.
Organizers will encourage residents to change their travel habits with the message that a good transportation system during the games is crucial if the world is to see Vancouver in a positive light. "People have a lot of pride in this region, and they will help us show that pride to the rest of the world," Wright told reporters.
Salt Lake City successfully emphasized the necessity of reducing traffic in the city during its games, but the plan failed when some businesses complained about losing customers during the Olympics. "Based on advice from Salt Lake City, our messaging has been: come downtown, use an alternative mode (of transport)," Wright said.
Governments have spent C$561 million ($545 million) to upgrade the only major road directly linking Vancouver and Whistler and C$2 billion on a rapid transit line from downtown to the airport. Planners stated they will follow the example set by the 2006 Turin Games and use police checkpoints to limit traffic going to and from Whistler.
Organizers said they hope that some drivers forced to switch from personal vehicles to public transport due to the games might decide not to return to driving once the event is over. (1 $ = 1.03 Canadian $) (Reported by Allan Dowd, edited by Peter Galloway).