| Transportation update from the Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team (OPTT) TravelSmart in 2010 and everyone wins |
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| Tuesday, 22 December 2009 17:10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General: Transportation is one of the greatest challenges in staging the 2010 Winter Games. Everyone is encouraged to come into downtown Vancouver to enjoy the Games but is asked to use alternative modes of transportation. “Know before you go” — plan ahead, dress warmly and allow plenty of travel time, no matter what mode of travel you choose. If we each do our part to reduce vehicle use, the Games will be a success and people and businesses will be able to move efficiently. www.travelsmart2010.ca is the best resource for transportation information, trip planning tools and up-to-date information about getting around during the Games. Olympic bus network: Bus tickets are now on sale for transportation on the Olympic bus network. This system is for those travelling from Metro Vancouver to Whistler-area events and for all ticket holders going to Cypress Mountain. Each venue has a specific departure hub. Ticket prices increase as of January 11, 2010. Visit www.travelsmart2010.ca or call 1.866.957.3774 to book. Destination Current Price Price as of January 11, 2010 Whistler $28 $50 Cypress Mountain $14 $25 The Olympic bus network is designed to transport ticket holders to and from one event per day. We have always recommended that spectators plan to attend a maximum of one event per day to ensure they have time to travel to the venue, as well as for the security screening process and to find their seat. Event postponements or delays occasionally happen. By planning to attend a maximum of one event per day and allowing for ample flex time, spectators can avoid such occurrences that could hamper their experience. Spectators with tickets for more than one event in one day are asked to first consult www.travelsmart2010.ca to understand the bus schedules before purchasing a transportation ticket. After each competition, spectators will be transported back to their originating departure point in Metro Vancouver. The last Olympic bus departs two hours after each competition ends. Those that wish to stay longer at a second event during one day are welcome to make other arrangements for their return trip home. Several commercial motorcoach companies currently provide service between Vancouver and Whistler. Visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information. Spectators travelling from Metro Vancouver on the Olympic bus network with event tickets to more than one competition at the same Whistler venue on the same day may return on the Olympic bus network after their last event. Those that wish to stay longer at a second event at a different venue during one day have two choices if they want to travel to Whistler on the Olympic bus network: They must purchase a second Olympic bus network ticket using the session code of their last ticketed event in Whistler. This will ensure there is sufficient space on the bus returning to Metro Vancouver; Those that wish to stay longer at a second event at a different venue during one day are also welcome to make other arrangements for their return trip home. Several commercial motorcoach companies currently provide service between Vancouver and Whistler; visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for more information. In addition, those with tickets for more than one event in one day that cannot be used are encouraged to take advantage of the fan-to-fan marketplace launched today. Visit www.vancouver2010.com for details. Sea to Sky checkpoint permits: Checkpoint permits have been distributed by mail to Whistler property owners. The permits started to arrive last week. It is the responsibility of each property owner to distribute their permits to any tenants or guests. Permits are fully transferable between vehicles and are available to everyone with confirmed parking in Whistler. For those who have confirmed parking but are not captured in the mail out, permit offices are now open. Locations and hours of operation are as follows: Community Permit Office Location Hours of Operation Dec. 14 to Feb. 11 Hours of Operation Feb. 12 to Feb. 28 Vancouver 450 West Broadway (at Cambie) Monday through Saturday Noon to 8:00 pm CLOSED Whistler Municipal Hall 4325 Blackcomb Way Monday through Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Seven days a week 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Squamish Squamish Volunteer Centre #2 – 40431 Tantalus Road Monday through Saturday Noon to 8:00 pm Seven days a week 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Pemberton Old Pemberton Community Centre 7567 Pemberton Meadows Monday through Saturday Noon to 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday Noon to 8:00 pm There is no charge for a checkpoint permit, but applicants must provide proof of confirmed parking in Whistler, or proof of address/business beyond Whistler. More information is available at www.travelsmart2010.ca. A reminder that travel on the Sea to Sky corridor north of Squamish is discouraged during the morning period up until 11:00 am even with a permit, in order to allow for the movement of the Olympic bus network. Travel on the corridor north of Squamish without a permit should only be undertaken in the evening. There is virtually no public parking available in Whistler. TravelSmart 2010 Program: Reducing vehicle traffic is one way to directly contribute to the success of the Games. The OPTT is reminding all to build a Games-time travel plan that focuses on using alternative modes of transportation in February 2010. Planning ahead and allowing additional travel time will be important steps in ensuring a positive travel experience. The afternoon peak period leaving downtown Vancouver is expected to be the busiest across all modes of transportation. Travellers are encouraged to “know before you go.” Of all modes, driving will be the slowest and most challenging. Visit www.travelsmart2010.ca for information on transportation changes and options to help you get around. Where possible, avoid using the transit system for commuter travel between 7:00 am and 9:00 am and between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. This will assist us in spreading out the demand during the morning rush hour and allow the system to handle the volumes of local spectators loading the venues between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. In the new year, organizations that have stepped up to the plate and pledged to reduce their vehicle use during the Games will be formally recognized by the OPTT through full-page ads in the Vancouver Sun and The Province. Those that have yet to make their pledge are encouraged to do so through www.travelsmart2010.ca to be included in this recognition. In addition, the OPTT has secured 50 tickets to each Victory Ceremony at BC Place. These tickets will be drawn from the organizations that have made their commitments to TravelSmart in 2010. The sets of tickets will be drawn on each TravelSmart 2010 Challenge Friday in January and the first Friday in February. TravelSmart 2010 Challenge: In January 2010, the OPTT will launch the TravelSmart 2010 Challenge (January 4 to February 12). As the road closures begin to take place, the OPTT will issue regular updates outlining the changes to the road network each week and the equivalent reduction in vehicle use needed to ensure people can move efficiently. As part of the challenge, residents and businesses will be encouraged to try out one of the TravelSmart options every Friday in the lead up to the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The OPTT will report on what reduction in vehicle use was observed each week. Driver training for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will also take place during the challenge and from January 23 to 31 in particular. Expect to see approximately 50 Olympic buses on the roads during this time. The bus routes can be viewed at www.vancouver2010.com/gameplan. Next transportation updates: The OPTT will host a transportation-themed Game Plan open house on January 6, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com/gameplan for details. This is an opportunity for the public to come and ask the 2010 transportation experts questions. In mid-January 2010, the OPTT will provide the third and final update on transportation plans, which will include details on the Opening and Closing Ceremonies — the two biggest and busiest days of the Games — and will remind travellers of the need to TravelSmart.
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