May 10, 2000
Crowds of pedestrians are expected to take over downtown Salt Lake City during the Olympics.
As many as 80,000 people a day could pack the streets.
The question is: How will they all get in and out of town?
News Specialist Richard Piatt tells us about the planning for the crunch.
You could see it as ironic that this parking lot will be the last place you find a car during the Olympics.
In fact, in 2002 a car in downtown Salt Lake City may very well slow you down.
If you think traffic is bad during rush hour, you won't even want to imagine tens of thousands more people here during the Olympics.
But some people do have to imagine it, and do something about it.
Already, a team of planners is working together on how to move people in, and keep cars out.
There are preliminary plans to close key streets downtown during the awards ceremonies.
Those streets include 100 South, 400 West, and 200 West.
It also includes South Temple, which will be open to TRAX, and which planners hope will double as a pedestrian mall.
Traffic restrictions could also apply to 300 West and North Temple.
The area is one of the spots where Salt Lake City's tornado touched down last summer.
Expect an equal flurry of activity between now and 2002.
At least 38,000 people a day could pack this parking lot for the Medal Ceremonies.
Up to 80,000 a day are expected in the whole downtown area.
"A LITTLE BIT IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I WANT TO STAY AWAY, ESPECIALLY WITH TRAX, WITH ONE LANE GOING UP. IT'S GOING TO BE NUTS."
Which is why planners are hoping to rely on TRAX and busses to shuttle people downtown, to capitalize on the growing Olympic spirit.
"I THINK IT'S FUN TO BE A PART OF WHAT'S GOING ON. I WOULD CERTAINLY PLAN ON IT, I PLAN ON BEING A VOLUNTEER."
"I THINK IT'LL BE A REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, BUT I THINK IT'S A CHANCE TO SHINE AND DO SOMETHING GOOD."
Of course these plans are preliminary right now, but there is still time to work out the kinks-- 639 days, to be exact.
