Conceptual issues in planning a special events public transportation network : the case of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

The 2004 Olympic Games will be held in Athens, Greece, a city with many traffic related problems. The main transportation needs during the Olympic Games will be largely based on the use of all modes of public transportation. The fixed route systems such as the Metro, the tram and the suburban rail lines are expected to carry most of the Olympic Games spectators and working personnel. More than twenty new bus lines will be established. Planning for the provision of public transport services during such a special event is an exacting and complicated process that requires the consideration and inclusion of a large number of parameters. Some of the most important parameters required in the planning process include: first, the conceptual planning of the entire transportation network that includes an Olympic ring road network for automobile use and that of the four different modes of public transportation; second, the interoperability of the various parts of this system, with particular care given to the integration of the different transport modes with a goal of achieving, to the degree possible, the seamless travel of fans and workers using a variety of modes; third, the determination of the dedicated travel lanes to be used by the vehicles transporting the Olympic family (athletes, trainers, judges and reporters) and the public transport modes transporting fans and workers; fourth, the planning and design of the routing path, stops and hours of operation of the dedicated bus lines that will operate only for a limited period of time; fifth, the determination of the operational characteristics of the bus and metro service on the dedicated Olympic lines; sixth, the incorporation of the dedicated Olympic lines into the existing feeder network; seventh, the planning, design, and operating characteristics of the park-and-ride stations that operate in the outskirts of the city; eight, the examination of unforeseen situations (emergency management) that need to be considered. The intention of this paper is to outline the network design philosophy and offer some insights that have been gained by the public transportation study team responsible for the provision of these services during the Olympic Games. For the covering abstract see ITRD E126595.