Transportation

Overview
The San Francisco Bay Area has one of the most extensive transportation networks of any metropolitan region in the U.S. A well-developed system of highways, transit systems, rail networks, airports and harbors provides mobility options for the region's eight million residents and supports the needs of a dynamic, technology-based economy. The region is also a major international gateway with an impressive network of airports and seaports that serve the nation and the Pacific Rim.

The Bay Area has demonstrated its ability to manage the transportation requirements of large-scale sports events, including the 1989 World Series, 1994 World Cup, 1999 Women's World Cup and the opening of the new Pacific Bell Park.

Who are the key players involved in the transportation initiative?
For the 2012 Olympic Games, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will serve as the principal planning agency. Supporting the MTC will be the Bay Area Partnership, which was established to foster collaboration among dozens of agencies to meet the travel needs of residents and visitors. The Bay Area Partnership Board consists of the top managers from the State Department of Transportation, transit operators and other transportation planning and funding organizations.

How will the Bay Area address additional highway/traffic congestion?
Between today and 2020, the region will invest over $90 billion in improving transportation infrastructure and systems. Spectators would ride organized public transit.

How would the increased traffic and usage of public transit impact the environment?
The San Francisco Bay Area is committed to clean technologies for transit vehicles and is currently replacing all engines in old transit vehicles to provide cleaner power sources and reduce emissions from the urban bus fleet. The region is also committed to investing in new vehicle exhaust systems and cleaner forms of diesel gasoline. AC Transit is currently engaging in a demonstration project to the test the feasibility of fuel cells in transit vehicles.

Key Highlights

The three Bay Area international airports (San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland) offer multiple air-travel options in close proximity to all Olympic venues.

• The Port of San Francisco currently offers sea access with plans for additional ship piers to shuttle passengers from cruise ships to the San Francisco Waterfront.
  
• Amtrak train systems are located in Emeryville, Oakland and San Jose with direct access to regional transit networks and Olympic venues.
  
• · The 2012 Olympic Games spectator transportation system will use Smart cards, known as TransLink, providing each ticket buyer with access to the system as part of their ticket purchase price.
  
• The My Olympic Games internet portal will contain transportation schedules and routs for spectators, staff, volunteers, and the Olympic family which will enable the management team to evaluate upcoming loads on the transportation system and to make adjustments on a day-by-day basis to the TravInfo system.
  
• A strong Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategy. As applied in Los Angeles in 1984 and in Atlanta in 1996 for the Olympic Games, combined with many of the current transportation services offered by the MTC and its partner agencies, along with a temporary expansion of public transit, can accommodate the Olympic Games of 2012.

For more information on Transportation:
Contact Steve Heminger, MTC, at ohn Marks, CEO of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau at 415-227-2605 or 510-464-7810 or sheminger@mtc.ca.gov

For media inquiries, please contact Tony Winnicker, BASOC, 650-856-2234 or 415-305-5617/ winnicker@yahoo.com or Kim Braun, Ketchum Communications, 415-984-2282/ kim.braun@ketchum.com.