Department for Transport
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Athletes to compete not commute in 2012

Athletes to compete not commute in 2012

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT News Release (195) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11 December 2008

Plans to help athletes, officials, and media move efficiently during the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, whilst minimising impact on the normal running of London, has taken a major step forward today as Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick launched a consultation on which roads could be included in the Olympic Route Network (ORN).

London, like previous Host Cities, will use a network of existing roads to link all competition and key non-competition venues to create the ORN. This first consultation outlines which roads are proposed for inclusion and is open for the next 14 weeks.

This will be followed next year by further thorough consultation, led by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), about the specific measures to be used on each of these roads.

Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said;

"The ORN will be vital for transporting the Games Family and keeping our country moving during the Games.

"We shouldn't underestimate the scale of the challenge, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are 20 times the size of the Football World Cup. That is why we are planning the best ways of getting everyone from A to B now. Good transport will be absolutely vital to ensure everyone can enjoy the 2012 events, whilst still allowing Londoners to go about their normal business.

"While London transport will look a little different, we are determined that the final Olympic Route Network will work for the Games and for Londoners as well as leaving a positive transport legacy in its wake."

The ORN will ensure that the 55,000 athletes, officials, media and sponsors on each of the 16 days of the Olympic Games and 16,500 on each of the 12 days of the Paralympics Games can move safely, quickly and reliably between the competition venues, their accommodation and other key locations.

This temporary solution will be implemented in a way which has been designed to keep London, and other competition areas, moving. The ORN will leave a positive legacy for the city including; permanent improved traffic signalling; the creation of a new Traffic Control Centre; new traffic signals; and new CCTV and junction upgrades.

This consultation is the first step in this process to enable councils and utility companies to plan an efficient schedule of works on these roads to keep London and the Games moving.

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said;

"A dedicated transport route is essential to the smooth running of an Olympics and London 2012 will be no different. However, we will listen to the views of those who will be affected to ensure that the route is flexible and disruption to regular travel is kept at a minimum.

"Good reliable transport is at the heart of our ambition for London 2012 - we are absolutely determined to ensure that athletes spend their time competing and not commuting during the Games, worrying about how they will perform, not about whether they'll get to their venue on time."

Today's public consultation document, which is run with the support of the Mayor of London, seeks views and feedback on the proposed routes of the ORN.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said:

"We are determined to deliver a great 2012 Games, in which everyone from athletes to organisers to spectators get to venues swiftly and smoothly, avoiding the problems that have marked some previous Games. Our aim is to bolster the reputation of London and the UK, and secure the long-term benefit of new insight in to how to manage traffic smoothly.

"The network will only apply temporarily to a limited number of roads, in certain parts of London. And alongside it will sit a hugely improved public transport network, which TfL is using their world-class expertise to deliver. This will mean that everyone can share in the carnival atmosphere and travel around London quickly and efficiently by public transport."

Following the consultation and analysis of the responses, the Transport Secretary will formally designate the ORN in summer 2009, giving the ODA the legal authority to implement traffic regulation orders to manage the ORN.

Following the designation, the ODA and its partners will engage and consult closely with local residents, businesses and road users to ensure that the measures deliver the best solution possible for the Games, the local area, and the road network as a whole.

Those allowed to use the Olympic Route Network will be;
* Athletes;
* Technical officials;
* The media;
* The International Olympic Committee - including the World Anti-doping Agency, Medical Commission, and medal ceremonies officials; and
* Games Partners.

Notes to Editors

1. The consultation runs from 11th December 2008 to 19th March 2008 and can be found here http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/

2. Under the powers provided in the 2006 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, the Secretary of State will designate a temporary ORN linking together competition venues and key non-competition venues.

3. Designation of the ORN grants the ODA ability to see what road works are planned for the network, and to keep the ORN free of non-emergency road and street works during the Games. Once the ORN is legally designated, the ODA also gains the ability to consult on and implement Traffic Regulation Orders on the ORN to manage traffic.

4. There are two distinct stages to the creation of the ORN, of which this consultation is the first:

Stage 1: Identification and consultation on the roads to be included in the ORN, and their formal designation by the Secretary of State. Once the roads have been formally designated, the ODA will be able to review any works planned for those roads, and can develop the measures needed to manage traffic during the Games.

Stage 2: Consultation on and implementation of traffic management measures on the ORN. The ODA, working closely with its delivery partners and with TfL in particular, will set out the traffic management measures which might be required during the Games. The ODA and its partners will engage and consult closely with local residents, businesses and road users to ensure that the measures deliver the best solution possible for the Games, the local area, and the road network as a whole.

Once the ORN is formally designated, and taking account of this second stage of consultation, the ODA will be able to make Traffic Regulation Orders on the ORN, to put in place the temporary measures required for Games time. Traffic management measures will only be put in place where the case for them is made.

5. We propose to include roads in the ORN to meet four sets of requirements:

* Core ORN: the main roads between accommodation, the Olympic Park and other main venues which will be heavily used by Games traffic throughout the Olympic Games period. These roads are entirely within London.

* Venue specific ORN: routes to other London venues and venues such as Weymouth, Eton Dorney and the route to Heathrow airport. A number of these venues will be in use for only part of the Games period.

* Alternative routes ORN: included as a contingency against disruption on one of the primary routes and only used if needed.

* Preferred training venues ORN: includes roads that are off the other ORN routes and need to be free from obstruction prior and during the Games so that athletes can get to and from their training venues.

6. The commitment to have an ORN was included in the Olympic Bid, and initial outline proposals for the network were included in the Olympic Delivery Authority's Olympic Transport Plan published in October last year. http://www.london2012.com/plans/transport/getting-ready/transport-plan.php

7. The ORN, and the ODA's related traffic management powers are time limited. The ORN will cease to exist once the Games are finished and the roads will revert back to normal operation.

Public Enquiries: 020 7944 8300
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk

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