GO proves a winner during Pan Am Games

The busy GO Lakeshore lines attracted 25 per cent more riders, including spectators and commuters, during the Games.

Thestar.com
By Tess Kalinowski

Toronto area commuters climbed out of their cars and on to transit during the Pan Am Games, according to the first look at GO ridership during that period.

GO's busy Lakeshore East and West lines carried 25 per cent more riders than the same period last year, on top of the anticipated annual passenger growth, according to Metrolinx.

The provincial agency that operates GO says 370,000 of the additional trips were Pan Am spectators.

Data is still being collected and crunched for the other GO lines, but most of the Pan Am events took place on destinations along the Lakeshore lines, said spokeswoman Anne Marie Aikins.

GO added about 600 additional train and bus trips to its regular schedule throughout the Games period, and many of those trips were full.

"Additional services were so full, we put on additional extra services for events (such as concerts at the Molson Amphitheatre) that were coinciding with Pan Am events," said Aikins.

Commuters were also heeding official advice not to drive. GO parking lots that normally aren't full in the morning were packed.

"We know some of those people will continue taking transit or were at least introduced to the idea," Aikins said.

The Games also attracted about 7,000 more people a day to Metrolinx's relatively new Triplinx region-wide online trip planner.

Many GO buses arrived 10 to 20 minutes ahead of their scheduled times because they were able to speed along the special Games-designated HOV lanes, which were to end at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

The HOV restrictions remained after the Games ended on the weekend to give athletes and officials easier access to their departing flights. That provision was part of the provincial commitment when Toronto won the Games, according to the Ministry of Transportation.

"Facilitating travel to and from international airports is consistent with practice in previous Games held in other locations. However, unlike other jurisdictions where Games lanes were restricted to accredited Games vehicles only, Ontario’s temporary HOV lanes have been open throughout the Games to transit vehicles and the carpooling public," said a ministry spokesman.

The TTC expects to release some Pan Am ridership numbers at the end of the week.