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The Commonwealth
Games Transport Strategy Steering Group today launched its transport
strategy for the Games.
Not only does
it aim to get as many visitors as possible travelling to the Commonwealth
Games by public transport, GMPTE are also encouraging people who
normally travel around Greater Manchester by car to consider switching
to public transport for the period of the Games.
Chris Mulligan,
GMPTE鈥檚 Director General and Chair of the Games Transport Steering
Committee, said: 鈥淭he Commonwealth Games is going to be the biggest
sporting event ever to be held in the UK and, undoubtedly, transport
is going to be a real deciding factor in the smooth running of the
event.
鈥淲e鈥檝e looked
at every aspect of the public transport journey and tried to make
it as easy as possible for people to access public transport and
information about it. We鈥檒l have more buses, trains and trams running
round the city than ever before, as well as around 8,000 dedicated
parking spaces for spectators at Park and Ride sites and parking
at a distance from Sportcity at Park and Walk sites.
鈥淕ood information
provision about public transport is going to be essential and so
we鈥檙e putting in a network of electronic information points as well
as extending the hours and facilities available at our existing
information outlets like the telephone enquiry line, Travelshops
and website.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been
working closely together to minimise disruption as far as we can
but people are still going to have to plan their journeys carefully
and allow plenty of extra time.鈥
Councillor Val
Stevens, Executive Member for Planning, Transport and the Environment,
said: 鈥淚 am delighted that so much is being done to get people travelling
by public transport during the Games and I thank all the agencies
involved in bringing all the elements together. Cycling and walking
routes also form a significant part of the strategy with cycle facilities
being provided at all of the Games venues. The 鈥楥itylink鈥 route
between Piccadilly and the Stadium only takes around 20 minutes
to walk."
Manchester City
Council鈥檚 Traffic Engineering Manager, Keith Williams, said: 鈥淲e
are working hard to ensure that athletes, spectators, businesses
and the residents of Manchester can all be accommodated. Roads will
be busier than normal and we are encouraging the use of public transport
as an alternative to the car during Games time. Many more signs
will be provided on the highway network to help visitors find their
way to the venues.鈥
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