The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), in partnership with BC Transit, will be providing transit service at no cost to riders on six Saturdays, beginning July 30. The RMOW recognizes that high volumes of visitors to Whistler Village during certain summer weekends can result in an increase in congestion to roads and parking lots and would like to encourage residents to consider travel by walking, cycling or transit instead of taking a personal vehicle. Providing transit free of charge to riders on peak Saturdays is an initiative of the RMOW’s Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) which was formed to address and recommend strategies related to Whistler transportation issues. This pilot project is one aspect of testing new transportation strategies and practices in Whistler. Saturdays were chosen as they are the busiest day of the week for traffic and parking volume.
“We heard from residents at the Community Forum in June that providing transit free of charge to riders could encourage local ridership. With the Transportation Advisory Group, we have been able to look at this suggestion and are operating the six free transit Saturdays as a pilot project to measure how well this incentive works,” said Whistler Mayor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden. “We always encourage residents to consider alternate ways to travel into the Village during peak times and we continue to look at possible ways to reduce congestion on the highway.”
Transit services will be free of charge to riders from start of service to 6 p.m. on the following Saturdays:
- July 30
- August 6
- August 13
- August 20
- August 27
- September 3
Free underground parking is available at Whistler Creekside for people who would like to park and take transit into the Village.
The RMOW encourages all residents to “Know and then go” by planning travel in advance during peak periods and give themselves extra time to consider walking, biking and transit or, if driving is necessary, planning to park in alternate parking lots in the Village if the Day Lots are likely to be full. A complete map of all parking resources within Whistler Village is available at www.whistler.ca/parking.
About the Resort Municipality of Whistler
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is Whistler’s local government led by an elected council and administered by an executive team and staff on behalf of 9,824 residents and two million annual visitors. The RMOW manages municipal planning and development, park and Village operations, sports facilities and recreation, public utilities and environmental services, bylaws and enforcement, fire rescue, fiscal planning and financial services, legislative services, human resources, communications and the administration of the Whistler2020 Comprehensive Sustainability Plan and Whistler’s Official Community Plan. The RMOW collaborates with in-resort and external partners to create visitor experiences and enrich community life.
Whistler’s vision is to be the premier mountain resort community as it moves toward sustainability. Whistler was the proud Host Mountain Resort for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Media Inquiries
Resort Municipality of Whistler Communications
TEL: 604-967-3030
E-MAIL: communications@whistler.ca
WEBSITE: www.whistler.ca
TWITTER: @RMWhistler
FACEBOOK: RMOW
INSTAGRAM: @RMWhistler
Public Inquiries
TEL: 604-932-5535
E-MAIL: info@whistler.ca
