The trains in the Boston area “ran smoothly” on Saturday when the World Cup kicked off in Foxborough with the MBTA saying that “all passengers with valid tickets were able to board a train,” according to Robisheaux, Chiu & Hempel-Edgers of the BOSTON GLOBE. The transportation authority said that it transported about 19,100 passengers “after pre-selling 20,000 tickets.” All Boston-bound returning trains “arrived ahead of schedule,” with the final train arriving at South Station at about 2:30am Sunday, per the MBTA. Though all fans with valid tickets were reportedly able to board their trains, “lines to board stretched around the block at South Station.” Some fans also “reported packed trains without air conditioning” as temperatures in Boston neared 90 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Upon making it to Foxborough, entering the stadium also “posed challenges for some fans,” with “closed entrances, long lines, and confusing signs leaving many waiting.” With more than an hour to go before kickoff, “dense crowds clogged entrances to the stadium” (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/15).
ALL ABOARD: In Vancouver, Joseph Ruttle noted TransLink said that it “recorded its busiest ridership for a big event day since the 2010 Olympics” when Turkey faced Australia at B.C. Place on Saturday. The Metro Vancouver transit agency said that “thousands of fans took transit to get to the match, the FIFA Fan Fest at the PNE, and to work and other destinations across the regional system.” System-wide, TransLink had 1,031,000 total daily boardings on June 13, up 14.3% from a typical 901,000 for Saturdays. Preliminary data shows that there were about 648,200 daily trips, up 17.8% from 550,300 on typical Saturdays. TransLink had “prepared for the surge by adding 600 bus trips, including added service to and from the fan festival in east Vancouver” (Vancouver PROVINCE, 6/15).
PASSING THE TEST: In San Jose, Gary Boulanger reported Bay Area transit agencies “set a ridership record” during the opening match of the World Cup at S.F. Bay Area Stadium on June 13, moving fans to and from the event and clearing postgame crowds “faster than expected.” The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, working with BART and Caltrain, carried 37,642 passengers for the match between Qatar and Switzerland, “marking the highest transit usage for a major event at the stadium.” The match served as the “first major test” of the Bay Area’s World Cup transportation plan (SILICON VALLEY BUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/15).
TRAFFIC REPORT: In Miami, Kaufman & Sreeharsha reported fans who chose to buy parking passes and drive to Miami Stadium for the World Cup match between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia “got stuck in heavy traffic,” but those who used the shuttle buses from park-and-ride lots said that they had a “pleasant, easy commute.” During the seven match days -- June 15, 21, 24, 27 and July 3, 11 and 18 -- verified ticket holders can “access the county’s free coach bus shuttle services at four hub sites in Miami-Dade and one in Broward County that will pick up fans and whisk them to and from Hard Rock Stadium.” The plan “seemed to work” (MIAMI HERALD, 6/15).
