Glasgow plans lasting legacy for transport from 2014 games

Published on Wednesday 8 September 2010 20:33

Organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have unveiled transport plans which they said would leave a "lasting and permanent legacy" for the city.

The document details how organisers hope to keep athletes, spectators and staff moving during the event when thousands of extra people will flood into Glasgow. Organisers hope to create a core route network of dedicated lanes on existing roads to transport the 4,500 athletes between the athletes' village, training and competition venues.

They will travel along the network in minibuses or coaches and will use the dedicated lanes where necessary, in which they will given priority over other traffic in a similar way to public service vehicles in bus lanes. After the games, most of the 20km that forms the core route network will be transformed into priority bus lanes.

Glasgow 2014 chief executive John Scott said: "Ensuring that Glasgow gets star athletes where they need to be at the right time in order to train and compete is of paramount importance.

"We aim to get athletes to all of the Glasgow venues within 20 minutes of the athletes' village, so they spend their time competing and not commuting.

"Not only will we be fulfilling a critical role to deliver an outstanding games, but we are using the investment to deliver a lasting and permanent legacy for the people of Glasgow."

Organisers said that other permanent improvements that would be left after the games would include new bus shelters, improved information and signage along the routes and better public safety through additional CCTV. The transport plan is open for public consultation until 25 March next year and can be downloaded from the Glasgow 2014 website, or viewed at libraries across Glasgow.

It is the first of three versions of the transport plan. Each will evolve from the previous one and the final version will be published in 2013.