To prevent municipal parking lots from turning into unofficial park and ride facilities, the Resort Municipality of Whistler has extended its three-hour parking limit from Meadow Park to parking lots at Myrtle Philip and Spring Creek Community Schools.
While both lots will remain free, the RMOW and Sea to Sky School District have agreed to impose a three-hour limit.
"Both the school district and the municipality felt it was important to impose a parking time limit at each school to avoid use of the lots as 'Park'n Ride' locations during the month of February," explained Roger Weetman, manager of recreation services for the RMOW. "It will be managed in a similar manner as the parking lots at Meadow Park Sports Centre."
Whistler Blackcomb also had some details to announce regarding parking before and after the Games.
A project to locate available parking in various indoor and outdoor lots in Whistler has turned up roughly 1,300 paid parking spaces that will be managed by Advanced Parking systems from Feb. 1 to 10 and through the month of March. The price is $20 for 12 hours and you can reserve spots at www.advancednet.ca.
As well as the additional spots that were located, Lot 10 - the temporary lot created on the Whistler Golf Club's driving range - will be open until Feb. 7, and from March 1 to 21.
While the lot was free the cost of parking will be $20 for 12 hours starting on Feb. 1, opening at 6 a.m. daily. Tickets are also available online.
As well, parking is available for $10 after 4 p.m. with the ability to pay on site.
Feb. 1 is also the day that the Olympic transit schedule will kick in for Sea to Sky residents with enhanced service on all existing routes and additional routes to more isolated areas of Whistler and the surrounding area. Roughly five times as many buses will be on the road at all times, with the service running around the clock.
Wait times will be in the neighbourhood of seven minutes on the main routes, with the longest waits in the 15-minute range. Service can be more sporadic in some areas like Alta Lake Road. Within Whistler an unlimited pass to use the transit service for the month of February is available for $38.50.
For more information visit www.bctransit.com/olympics/.
