Traffic down in Nagano as Olympics begin

February 7, 1998

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Traffic down in Nagano as Olympics begin

Traffic on the streets of Nagano has long been a worry for organizers of the 18th Olympic Winter Games, but on Saturday, the opening day of the sports spectacular, it had been reduced even beyond their own hopes.

Compared with traffic levels of one week ago, traffic was down 39.7%, exceeding the goal of 30% set by the Nagano Olympic organizing committee (NAOC) in all of its Olympic transportation plans.

Fearing traffic jams, large scale traffic regulations were put into effect in conjunction with the opening ceremony.

''The reduction is a result of our appeal to the public to cooperate with our traffic controls. Based on this result, we are hoping that traffic levels will not increase once the various events begin, '' a Nagano prefectural police official said.

Focusing on the site of the opening ceremony and throughout Nagano, the traffic controls went into effect at 7 a.m. as authorities re-routed traffic and closed off some streets throughout the city.

NAOC has encouraged ticket holders to use public transportation and has asked companies in the area to urge their employees not to take their cars to work.

Some 1.2 million people, as well as 60,000 athletes, officials and special guests are expected to visit Nagano during the 16-day games.

Nine hundred buses and 1,500 smaller vehicles, including vans provided by sponsors, will be used to ferry people to and from venues. (Kyodo News)

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