Yellow Fever
November 26th, 2008, 06:25 AM
Vancouver plans Olympic traffic limits
By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News
Published: November 25, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: November 25, 2008 5:13 PM
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr71/yellowfever_2008/15220BCLN2007olytransportmap-web2.jpg
Don't expect to easily drive into Vancouver's downtown core during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The City of Vancouver has unveiled preliminary plans to close or restrict vehicle use of large swaths of the core.
The strategy includes making up to 25 blocks of road space pedestrian-only – including much of Robson, Granville and Hamilton downtown – and closing other roads closest to the downtown stadiums and convention centre for security reasons.
Hastings Street from Highway 1 to downtown, much of Broadway and several more downtown streets, including Georgia, Burrard, Seymour and Howe, are to be designated "priority" lanes that can be reserved for Olympic-accredited traffic and transit only.
Streetside parking will also be banned in much of downtown during the Games to maximize road space.
Some corridors south of downtown — including Granville and Oak streets and parts of 49th Avenue and King Edward – are also to be no-parking zones.
The same arteries – up to 650 blocks in all – would also have left turns banned, as happens now during rush hour.
It's estimated Games operations will cut the Vancouver road capacity heading to downtown from the east by 50 per cent, and overall by 20 per cent.
Planners expect the total trips taken in Vancouver to rise 30 per cent during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will attract 4,000 athletes, 10,000 media, 25,000 volunteers and a quarter of a million visitors.
Officials hope to achieve a 25 to 35 per cent cut in local vehicle traffic heading to and from downtown during the Games.
NDP critic Maurine Karagianis has warned Olympic priority lanes may cause heavy congestion in unrestricted corridors.
Vanoc, the organizing committee for the 2010 Games, has not yet unveiled its full Olympic transportation plan, nor has TransLink.
Vanoc CEO John Furlong this month called on businesses to consider various ways to cut employee traffic, including urging or even mandating workers to take vacations in February, 2010.
By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News
Published: November 25, 2008 3:00 PM
Updated: November 25, 2008 5:13 PM
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr71/yellowfever_2008/15220BCLN2007olytransportmap-web2.jpg
Don't expect to easily drive into Vancouver's downtown core during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The City of Vancouver has unveiled preliminary plans to close or restrict vehicle use of large swaths of the core.
The strategy includes making up to 25 blocks of road space pedestrian-only – including much of Robson, Granville and Hamilton downtown – and closing other roads closest to the downtown stadiums and convention centre for security reasons.
Hastings Street from Highway 1 to downtown, much of Broadway and several more downtown streets, including Georgia, Burrard, Seymour and Howe, are to be designated "priority" lanes that can be reserved for Olympic-accredited traffic and transit only.
Streetside parking will also be banned in much of downtown during the Games to maximize road space.
Some corridors south of downtown — including Granville and Oak streets and parts of 49th Avenue and King Edward – are also to be no-parking zones.
The same arteries – up to 650 blocks in all – would also have left turns banned, as happens now during rush hour.
It's estimated Games operations will cut the Vancouver road capacity heading to downtown from the east by 50 per cent, and overall by 20 per cent.
Planners expect the total trips taken in Vancouver to rise 30 per cent during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will attract 4,000 athletes, 10,000 media, 25,000 volunteers and a quarter of a million visitors.
Officials hope to achieve a 25 to 35 per cent cut in local vehicle traffic heading to and from downtown during the Games.
NDP critic Maurine Karagianis has warned Olympic priority lanes may cause heavy congestion in unrestricted corridors.
Vanoc, the organizing committee for the 2010 Games, has not yet unveiled its full Olympic transportation plan, nor has TransLink.
Vanoc CEO John Furlong this month called on businesses to consider various ways to cut employee traffic, including urging or even mandating workers to take vacations in February, 2010.