Organizers of the 2010 Olympic Games are telling British Columbians to brace for commuter chaos.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee unveiled phase two of its transportation plan Wednesday. VANOC says the plan will only be successful if traffic is reduced by at least 30 per cent in downtown Vancouver, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Whistler and the Lions Gate and Iron Workers' Memorial bridges. That translates to 60,000 fewer people driving in and out of Vancouver each day.

Graduated road closures are set to begin in mid-January, but the first closure around the Olympic Village takes effect November 1. Both vehicle and foot traffic will be restricted in the area, including the seawall walkway on the south side of False Creek and on 1st Avenue.

There will also be tight restrictions on parking and stopping on Vancouver streets in the city's downtown core.

Priority lanes for athletes, media and public transit start February 4. It will be coupled with an increase in public transit.

Transportation in and out of Whistler will be impossible for anyone without a permit. A traffic checkpoint will be set up north of Squamish near Alice Lake from Feb. 11 to 28.

Drivers hoping to pass through the city between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. must have a permit.

Whistler Village will remain open during the Games, as well 90 per cent of ski area at Whistler Blackcomb, but public parking will be extremely limited.

Vancouver Organizing Committee executive vice president of services Terry Wright acknowledges the changes will be an inconvenience, but says everyone needs to pull together in order to make the Games successful.

"We know the public wants this to work and wants our guests from around the world to have a great experience here and see the region in a positive light," he said.

Wright advocates taking public transit, as well as other sustainable transit, like walking or biking, during the Games.

But even public transit is expected to be overwhelmed.  Doug Kelsey, CEO of SkyTrain, says commuters should allow for extra travel time during the Games -- no matter where their destination.

"No one escapes this. Everyone's got a role, so whether you live in Point Grey or Dunbar or you live out in Langley, everyone's got their own unique circumstances."

Commuters are encouraged to avoid travelling in Vancouver during peak times from February 12 to March 1.

"This means, whenever possible, travelling into the downtown area before 7:00 am or after 9:00 am and leaving by 2:00 pm; or, for those who want to stay later and enjoy the fun, leaving after 7:00 pm," officials say.

For the Sea-to-Sky Highway, this means travelling north before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Closures during the Games

Many downtown roads will be affected by traffic changes during the Games. Here's an overview:

  • Expo and Pacific boulevards will close to traffic in late January
  • Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts will close Feb. 5
  • Road closures around 2010 venues, including Canada Hockey Place (GM Place) and BC Place, will start mid-January

VANOC and the City of Vancouver promise that anyone who lives and works in the areas within the security zones will have full access to their homes and businesses. 

Designated Olympic lanes come into effect February 4 during athlete training, and will remain until March 1. The lanes will work like high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.  Here are the major Olympic HOV routes:

  • Burrard St, Burrard Bridge to Pender St
  • Seymour St, Granville Bridge to Hastings St
  • Howe St, Hastings St to Granville Bridge
  • Pender St, Cambie St to Howe St
  • Cambie St, Cambie Bridge to 59th Ave
  • Broadway, Arbutus St to Commercial Dr
  • Georgia St, Richards St to the Stanley Park Causeway
  • Hastings St, Seymour to Boundary Rd

    Public transit

    The traffic restrictions are being coupled with an increase in public transit starting in January. Changes include:

    • 48 more SkyTrain cars on Millennium and Expo lines (Jan. 1)
    • 180 additional buses (Feb. 1 to 28)
    • 30 more HandiDART vehicles (Feb. 1 to 28)
    • Third SeaBus added (Feb. 8 to 28)
    • Expanded WestCoast Express trips (Feb. 12 to 28)
    • SkyTrain hours extended to 2:15 a.m.

    Whistler will also expand bus service by 96 vehicles, with connecting buses linking Squamish and Pemberton 24 hours a day. This will come into effect Feb. 1 and last until the 28th.

    BC Transit is aiming to have 90 per cent of Whistler-area homes within 400 metres of a bus stop.

    The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team has launched a website, www.travelsmart2010.ca, to help the public plan ahead for getting around during the Games.

Public transit

The traffic restrictions are being coupled with an increase in public transit starting in January. Changes include:

  • 48 more SkyTrain cars on Millennium and Expo lines (Jan. 1)
  • 180 additional buses (Feb. 1 to 28)
  • 30 more HandiDART vehicles (Feb. 1 to 28)
  • Third SeaBus added (Feb. 8 to 28)
  • Expanded WestCoast Express trips (Feb. 12 to 28)
  • SkyTrain hours extended to 2:15 a.m.

Whistler will also expand bus service by 96 vehicles, with connecting buses linking Squamish and Pemberton 24 hours a day. This will come into effect Feb. 1 and last until the 28th.

BC Transit is aiming to have 90 per cent of Whistler-area homes within 400 metres of a bus stop.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team has launched a website, www.travelsmart2010.ca, to help the public plan ahead for getting around during the Games.

Designated Olympic lanes come into effect February 4 during athlete training, and will remain until March 1. The lanes will work like high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.  Here are the major Olympic HOV routes:

  • Burrard St, Burrard Bridge to Pender St
  • Seymour St, Granville Bridge to Hastings St
  • Howe St, Hastings St to Granville Bridge
  • Pender St, Cambie St to Howe St
  • Cambie St, Cambie Bridge to 59th Ave
  • Broadway, Arbutus St to Commercial Dr
  • Georgia St, Richards St to the Stanley Park Causeway
  • Hastings St, Seymour to Boundary Rd

    Public transit

    The traffic restrictions are being coupled with an increase in public transit starting in January. Changes include:

    • 48 more SkyTrain cars on Millennium and Expo lines (Jan. 1)
    • 180 additional buses (Feb. 1 to 28)
    • 30 more HandiDART vehicles (Feb. 1 to 28)
    • Third SeaBus added (Feb. 8 to 28)
    • Expanded WestCoast Express trips (Feb. 12 to 28)
    • SkyTrain hours extended to 2:15 a.m.

    Whistler will also expand bus service by 96 vehicles, with connecting buses linking Squamish and Pemberton 24 hours a day. This will come into effect Feb. 1 and last until the 28th.

    BC Transit is aiming to have 90 per cent of Whistler-area homes within 400 metres of a bus stop.

    The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team has launched a website, www.travelsmart2010.ca, to help the public plan ahead for getting around during the Games.

Public transit

The traffic restrictions are being coupled with an increase in public transit starting in January. Changes include:

  • 48 more SkyTrain cars on Millennium and Expo lines (Jan. 1)
  • 180 additional buses (Feb. 1 to 28)
  • 30 more HandiDART vehicles (Feb. 1 to 28)
  • Third SeaBus added (Feb. 8 to 28)
  • Expanded WestCoast Express trips (Feb. 12 to 28)
  • SkyTrain hours extended to 2:15 a.m.

Whistler will also expand bus service by 96 vehicles, with connecting buses linking Squamish and Pemberton 24 hours a day. This will come into effect Feb. 1 and last until the 28th.

BC Transit is aiming to have 90 per cent of Whistler-area homes within 400 metres of a bus stop.

The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Transportation Team has launched a website, www.travelsmart2010.ca, to help the public plan ahead for getting around during the Games.