WinterSports2002.com, Friday, February 22, 2002

One last test for transit planners

Saturday will be a huge day for Oly travelers

By Dennis Romboy
Deseret News staff writer

Olympic transportation planners are holding their breath as Utah gears up for the final big weekend of the 2002 Winter Games.

Whether they turn blue or exhale a sigh of relief depends on how well Utahns follow directions.

"We expect Saturday to be huge," said Andrew Gemperline, Salt Lake Organizing Committee director of transportation planning. "That concerns us hugely."

Gemperline's worry stems not from the masses of people that are expected to make their way to downtown Salt Lake City or Park City for one last chance at an Olympic experience, but from how they plan to get there.

Utahns who dutifully followed the strongly recommended transportation plan during the first week of the Games mostly abandoned it the second week.

Olympic spectators quit arriving early for events at Park City, Deer Valley and Soldier Hollow. Carpooling numbers dwindled. People started driving their own cars rather than using park-and-ride lots to get downtown. Congestion ensued.

Transportation officials are pleading with residents to toe the line for three more days.

Olympic park-and-ride lots, which will open at 11 a.m. Saturday, are still the best bet for getting downtown, they say. TRAX also remains an option.

Whether heading downtown or to a venue, people should allow themselves plenty of time to drive, walk, catch a shuttle and clear security checkpoints.

Gemperline advises those headed to Park City to wait until the lot on U.S. 40 loads for the 10 a.m. slalom event at Deer Valley. And, they say, don't park at Utah Olympic Park if the city is your destination.

Parking attendants will be checking for tickets to ensure motorists are actually going to Saturday's bobsled competition rather than using the lot to catch a bus to Main Street. Seems many downtown visitors parked there last Saturday, jamming the expansive lot at Kimball Junction.

"Don't try to cheat the system. You might win once, but you're going to cause everyone else a lot of problems," said Bob Parry, Utah Department of Transportation senior planner.

Parry called last Saturday the worst traffic day of the Games. Sunny skies and warm weather brought thousands to the Park City party.

Some of those parking at Utah Olympic Park were stymied at the park-and-ride lot down the road on U.S. 40 just off Silver Creek Junction. Officials turned away some 500 cars because the lot was full. Drivers will not be asked to show Olympic tickets there Saturday.

Motorists' claims of "my aunt lives here, so I can park in her driveway" at Deer Valley prompted officials to triple the number of police officers posted at intersections, Parry said. Officers will there will be watching closely for SLOC and residential parking permits. Those without permits will be routed out of the area.

E-MAIL: romboy@desnews.com

© 2002 Deseret News Publishing Company