Senior transportation planners from Toronto 2015 presented details on transit enhancements, information tools for cars users in the Games region and temporary traffic measures that would be introduced during the Games, which is due to start next Friday (July 10). 

Among those present at the event was Andrew Posluns, executive director of the Toronto 2015 branch of the Ontario Ministry of Transport and Allen Vansen, executive vice-president of operations, sport and venue management at Toronto 2015.

The panel have focused on achieving three goals during the Games, including keeping  the region moving by implementing temporary traffic measures, providing a safe and positive experience for both spectators and volunteers and ensuring athletes, officials and media will be delivered safely and on time to venues.

One of the key ideas to reduce the demand on transportation at the Games will be the increased promoting of options like cycling and carpooling, with a high-occupancy vehicle lane due to be set up during the Games which will be open to cars with more than three people, while penalties for misuse of the lanes will also be enforced.

Additionally,  several venues will have no available parking, which Toronto 2015 hope will encourage the public to use public transport.

Ticket-holders will also be able to access public transportation for free by showing their ticket, while they will also be able to ride Go trains without payment, with extra transport set to be on offer to the public.

Several different routes to venues will be set up to help transport athletes reliably to competitions based on up to date traffic reports, with the busiest routes avoided, while measures will be in place as venues to limit disruption to local residents and businesses.

A dedicated app, 2015gamestripplanner.ca, will also aim to help the public to decided on the best routes to take during the Games, with up to date traffiic reports incorporated into the system, while parking availability at certain venues will also be included.

Toronto 2015 will be working alongside key regional experts such as the Toronto Transport Commission, who were represented by deputy chief executive Chris Upfold at the information session, which included a question and answer session with key officials.

Chris Burke, director of service planning at transport authority Metrolinx, transportation security planning lead at Ontario Provincial police inspector André Phelps and Stephen Buckley, general manager of transportation services at the City of Toronto, were among the other key officials at the session.

The Pan American Games are due to take place until 26, while the Parapan American Games are due to be held from August 7 to 15.

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