Commercial Carriers in Whistler at Games Time

February 2010 Commercial Carrier Program Summary

The Resort Municipality of Whistler and its transportation partners' have prepared an Olympic Winter Games integrated transportation plan. This plan has identified the management of vehicular traffic on both municipal roads and Highway 99 to be a priority. Critical to this objective is the need to manage commercial passenger vehicles within the RMOW. To ensure success, the RMOW has developed a February 2010 Commercial Carrier Program which will address passenger drop-off and pick-up points as well as vehicle staging. The following is a summary of key points as related to this program. Full details and maps for each Commercial Carrier staging area are available for download here.

The February 2010 Commercial Carrier Program is not a security initiative rather, a traffic management initiative to manage commercial passenger vehicles on municipal roads in Whistler. This program will be in effect February 1 through February 28, 2010;

Dedicated zones will be assigned throughout Whistler for the drop-off and pick-up of passengers. Vehicles using these areas must be involved in active pick-up or drop-off; no vehicle parking is allowed in these zones. These areas will be allocated based on vehicle type. The different types are as follows:

1. Taxis (Separate zones will be allocated for local and Vancouver-destined taxis)
2. Hotel and business shuttles
3. Limousines, SUV's and vans
4. Motorcoaches

Access to Whistler area hotels for the pick-up and delivery of hotel guests is not restricted (except as outlined below for motor coaches) as long as the hotel has its own dedicated drop off zone. Parking will not be allowed in these hotel zones.

A number of significant changes will be made to roads and traffic patterns that will impact commercial passenger carriers. These include:

• Whistler Way – This will become a dead end road (terminating at the Conference Centre) with access and egress only from the intersection with Highway 99, which will become a full movement intersection.
• Main Street – This will become a one-way road operating in a counter clockwise direction (south to north). Use of this street will be heavy and proper use of commercial carrier zones will be closely monitored.
• Blackcomb Way – The section between Lorimer Road and Municipal Hall will be closed at all times.
• Spearhead Way/Painted Cliff Road – This will become a one-way loop operating in a counter clockwise direction
• Whistler Creek – Lake Placid Road in front of the Legends hotel will be closed
• Access to London Lane and Lake Placid Road controlled through Local Vehicle Permitting.

Traditional commercial carrier parking areas (such as day skier lots) will not be available for use. Parking for commercial passenger vehicles will be available in designated areas on Mons Road, Spearhead Drive\Painted Cliff Road, and Blueberry Drive. Arrangements for parking can be made through the Commercial Carrier Transportation Manager.

Commercial Carrier Permits will be required for all commercial passenger vehicles in Whistler. These will be available in advance of the Games through the Commercial Carrier Coordinator and during Games time from the Private Carrier Transportation Manager or the Whistler Permit Office which will be located at Municipal Hall (4325 Blackcomb Way).

Whistler Commercial Carrier Permit Office Hours of Operation

• December 14 - February 11: Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• February 12 - February 28: 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Motor coaches will not be allowed access to Gateway Loop for the pick-up or drop-off purposes. Coaches must use only the Blackcomb Way – Montebello zone for loading and unloading of day visitors and the Blackcomb East designated zone for day skiers. Scheduled motor coach carriers (Greyhound and PCL) will be relocated from Gateway Loop to Main Street.

Download the Whistler Commercial Carrier Permit Application here.

Email [email protected] for additional information.