The challenge

When athletes, media and tourists come to Ontario for the Games, they’ll be joining the millions of families, commuters and businesses who use the transportation network.

Having reliable transportation for the Games is important to its success. Athletes and officials must get to competitions safely and reliably across a large regional footprint, and residents and businesses need to keep moving.

What we’re doing

The province, the TORONTO 2015 organizing committee, municipalities and other partners are all working together to prepare for the Games.

TORONTO 2015 has a budget in order to provide transportation services, such as fleet vehicles, for Games athletes, officials and media.

In addition, Ontario and its partners have developed an integrated transportation plan for the Games that will:

  • keep the region moving for residents, commuters and businesses
  • provide safe and reliable transportation for athletes, officials and media
  • provide a positive, seamless and accessible transportation experience for spectators

Transportation plan

Ontario and its partners have a 5-point plan to keep everyone moving during the Games:

1. A Games Route Network

A series of existing roads and highways that link Games sites such as the airport, competition and training venues, the Athletes’ Village and other accommodations. The Games Route Network will provide safe and reliable travel for athletes and ensure they arrive on schedule. It includes traffic measures such as temporary HOV lanes.

2. Reducing demand on transportation

A program that will help reduce traffic impacts during the Games by providing options for Ontarians to plan their travel. Information will be provided to let people know what traffic may be like so they can avoid delays.

3. Spectator transportation services

Public transit agencies across the region are working together to provide convenient and accessible public transit service for spectators.

Spectator services include:

  • coordinating bus schedules
  • increasing the frequency of service
  • adding temporary Games routes
  • a seamless specialized transit booking system
  • signs to help people find their way to events
  • parking management including a pre-booking system for accessible spaces
  • cycle parking at venues
  • safe walking routes in and out of venues

4. Traffic measures around venues

To ensure safe operations near events and minimize local disruptions, the province and its partners are working together to plan parking restrictions, turning bans, public transit adjustments and road closures where necessary.

5. Regional coordination

To plan and deliver transportation for the Games, Ontario continues to work closely with its partners:

  • Toronto 2015
  • Metrolinx
  • the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario
  • 15 municipalities
  • 8 regional governments
  • 12 transit agencies
  • security planners

During the Games, partners will work together in one location to coordinate operations, monitor and respond to traffic activities.

Costs

While subject to change based on ongoing Games planning, Ontario’s transportation costs are currently estimated to be $61 million.

Transportation framework

In February 2014, Ontario and its partners completed the Strategic Framework for Transportation for the 2015 Pan Am / Parapan Am Games. It is a planning document that outlines key strategies that all partners will use to deliver successful transportation.

What’s next

Ontario will continue to test and refine elements of the transportation plan and finalize local traffic management measures.

In November 2014, Ontario and its partners will begin reaching out to people near venues who may be directly impacted by the Games to let them know what to expect.