VANCOUVER — 2010 Olympic organizers have unveiled phase two of their transportation plan, calling for a 30 per cent reduction of vehicle traffic in both Vancouver and Whistler.
Graduated road closures will begin in mid-January and run until March 1, with tight restrictions on parking or stopping on many downtown Vancouver streets.
Olympic lanes giving priority access to athletes, media and public transit vehicles will come into effect February 4 and Games officials plan to introduce 48 more SkyTrain cars, 180 more buses, and a third SeaBus.
A traffic checkpoint will be set up south of Whistler and vehicles hoping to pass through between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. will need a permit.
Vancouver Organizing Committee executive vice president of services Terry Wright says the message to residents and business owners is that everyone must pull together to make the Games a success.
Wright says the easiest way to get around will be public transit and he’s advising those attending the Games to plan ahead to avoid delays.