Transit Investments for the Olympic Games - Metropolitan Planning Council

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Transit Investments for the Olympic Games

Athens spent $15 billion to host the 2004 Olympics. Beijing has spent an unprecedented $26.4 billion on transportation and other infrastructure alone to host this year’s 2008 Summer Games.

In just two weeks,Beijing, China, will take center stage as the 29th Summer Olympic Games begin in one of the world’s most populated cities.  The Games provide an unique opportunity for the host city to shine in front of a worldwide audience and introduce innovative practices that can leave a lasting legacy. As part of the legacy from the ’08 Games, Beijing hopes to deliver a ‘green’ Olympics.  While the athlete’s victories are captured on camera, China hopes to implement a transportation strategy worthy of a gold medal.

Expressway to Olympic Village, Beijing

 

In order to accommodate the 300 sporting events, 16,000 athletes and coaches, and more than 9 million spectators, host cities must enact aggressive transportation plans, with a considerable transit investment to provide fast, reliable options for the worldwide event.  According to the Wall Street Journal, it is estimated the Chinese government spent more than $42 billion to host the Olympic Games. A large majority of that budget was allocated for transit investments, which included the addition of 10 miles of bus rapid transit (BRT), purchase of almost 500 electric, hybrid and natural gas-powered buses and taxis, as well as 2,000 new diesel buses to their existing routes.  The city recently opened a new $2.3 billion subway line and light rail line to connect the airport and the city’s central transportation hub.  Olympic ticket holders will be given free rides on all Beijing ’s public transportation and an estimated 3.3 million private cars will be given limited access to drive during the games.

 

 

New Subway Station in Beijing

 

Chicago, a finalist for the 2016 Olympic Games, may have much of the infrastructure already in place to accommodate the most prestigious international sporting event in the world.  But, it is critical that Illinois passes a state capital bill that prioritizes transportation investments, and maintains and upgrades our current system – not only for the benefit of Olympic athletes and visitors for two weeks in 2016, but for the benefit of Chicago and the entire region for the next few decades.

 

This article was featured in Talking Transit, MPC’s bi-weekly e-newsletter. To receive the newsletter, email talkingtransit@metroplanning.org with ‘Subscribe’ in the subject line.

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