Transit Providers 'Drive for the Gold' to Move 1.7 Million Athletes
And Spectators Around Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- When athletes, spectators and
journalists from around the globe travel to the Olympic events in Utah this
week, they are relying on public transportation vehicles and personnel from 64
communities around the nation.
Prior to the start of the Winter Games, hundreds of buses, light rail
cars, transit operators, mechanics and managers arrived in Salt Lake City from
as far away as Honolulu to help move the estimated 1.7 million athletes,
trainers, officials, media, sponsors, staff and spectators attending the
Games. Eleven hundred transit personnel and more than 700 buses are on loan
from public transportation organizations across the United States.
"Investing in public transportation helped Salt Lake City to be selected
as host of the 2002 Winter Olympics," said John Inglish, head of the Utah
Transit Authority (UTA). "In anticipation of the Games, we accelerated our
plans for a new light rail extension. We are especially grateful to Dallas
Areas Rapid Transit (Dallas, TX) for the loan of 29 light rail vehicles,
which more than doubled our fleet."
More than two years ago, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC)
launched a program called "Drive for the Gold" to recruit operators from
throughout the country to drive buses and other vehicles at the Games.
America's public transportation agencies willingly stepped forward to help by
sending equipment, people and expertise. More than 1,000 transit operators
volunteered to come during vacation time to assist Salt Lake City during the
Games.
"We were ready when the Games began, but we couldn't have done it with out
the support and assistance of public transportation organizations throughout
the country," said SLOC Managing Director of Transportation Tom Halleran. "We
are extremely grateful that so many cities have shown their Olympic pride by
pitching in to help us get a hundreds of thousands of visitors in our city
where they need to go safely, conveniently and on time."
In 1999, UTA opened its new 15-mile, 16-stop TRAX light rail line. The
entire system has met with tremendous success, transporting more than 25,000
passengers daily. In Dec. 2001, the line was extended to reach the University
of Utah, the site of the Olympic Village and the opening and closing
ceremonies. The UTA will also be operating regular bus service and shuttle
routes throughout the Games.
"The light rail system was an instant success for our city," Inglish said.
"Now, Salt Lake City and America's public transportation systems are teaming
up to make these Olympic Games a world-class success for everyone."
American Public Transportation Association President William W. Millar
said, "Good transit is good business and a great way to bring communities
together for the Olympics and other major sporting events. This has been
demonstrated in cities from Boston to Dallas and from Miami to Portland,
Oregon. Public transit ridership is at its highest level in 40 years and is
particularly effective in moving large numbers of people to and from sporting
events and stadiums."
A list of the cities donating personnel and equipment follow. Photos and a
video news release of public transportation contributions to the Olympics are
also available. For more information about Salt Lake City's Olympic
transportation plan, please visit http://www.saltlake2002.com .
APTA is a nonprofit international association of over 1,400 public and
private member organizations including transit systems and commuter rail
operators; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and
service providers; academic institutions, transit associations and state
departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by
providing safe, efficient and economical transit services and products. Over
ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and
Canada are served by APTA members.
List of Cities Providing Vehicles and Transit Personnel
to the 2002 Winter Olympics
* Arizona
- Phoenix
* California
- San Jose
- Los Angeles
- Orange County
- San Bernadino
- San Diego
- Sacramento
- West Covina
- Culver City
- Reading
- Fresno
- Monterey-Salinas
- San Francisco Bay
- Montebello
- Torrance
- Stockton
* Colorado
- Denver
- Ft. Collins
* District of Columbia
- Washington
* Florida
- Ft. Myers
- Sarasota
* Georgia
- Atlanta
* Hawaii
- Oahu
* Illinois
- Chicago
- Rock Island
- Champaign Urbana
- Decatur
- Rockford
* Indiana
- Indianapolis
* Iowa
- Des Moines
- Iowa City
* Louisiana
- New Orleans
* Maryland
- Baltimore
* Massachusetts
- Boston
* Minnesota
- Minneapolis / St. Paul
- St. Cloud
- Duluth
* Missouri
- St. Louis
* Montana
- Billings
- Missoula
* Nevada
- Reno
* New Mexico
- Albuquerque
* New York
- New York City
- Syracuse
- Buffalo
* Ohio
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
* Oklahoma
- Tulsa
* Oregon
- Salem
- Portland
- Eugene
* Tennessee
- Chattanooga
* Texas
- Dallas
- Houston
- San Antonio
* Virginia
- Blacksburg
- Hampton Roads
* Washington
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tacoma
- Richland
* Wisconsin
- Madison
- Milwaukee
SOURCE American Public Transportation Association
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Related links:
http://www.saltlake2002.com
CONTACT:
Donna Aggazio or Amy Coggin, +1-202-496-4800,
both of the American Public Transportation Association; or Bill
Maroni, +1-202-739-0353 or Stephanie Bluma, +1-202-739-0255, both
of Weber Shandwick, for American Public Transportation
Association
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