Bus riders, be ready: Sunday morning in downtown Vancouver is likely to be chaotic.
Both the Couve Clover Run downtown and a Bernie Sanders rally at Hudson’s Bay High School are happening at 11 a.m. That means a lot of bus stops are going to be closed, routes will be detoured and traffic is probably going to be heavy around the Interstate 5 corridor.
“We are going to do our absolute best to ensure everybody gets to where they need and want to be,” C-Tran spokeswoman Christine Selk said. “If it means putting vehicles on standby, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Seven bus routes will detour, and 36 stops will be closed in downtown Vancouver from around 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the Couve Clover Run.
C-Tran routes 3, 4, 25, 30, 32, 37 and 71 will be affected. Some stops along Evergreen Boulevard, Sixth Street, Eighth Street, Franklin Street, Washington Street, Columbia Way and Columbia Street will be temporarily closed.
The stop closures will also impact how riders transfer buses around downtown. Because so many typical transfer points will be closed, C-Tran will set up a temporary transit center at 13th Street at C Street until 1 p.m.
The Bernie Sanders rally starts at 11 a.m. Riders can get to the rally using bus routes 3, 25, 30, and 37.
While public transportation might be a good alternative to avoiding parking issues, heavy traffic could lead to bus delays.
“It’s going to be a very, very busy day,” Selk said. “I’d call on people to tap on their stores of patience.”
A complete list of closures and detour maps of the affected routes are a available online at http://bit.ly/1Lvc3R9.
The Vancouver Police Department is developing a game plan for Sunday’s rally and speech, spokeswoman Kim Kapp said. Primary concerns will be traffic flow, parking and allowing a space for rallies and protests.
Though details on how many extra officers might be on hand were not available early Friday afternoon, Kapp said “we always have a plan in place where we do have staffing.”
The department will also have to coordinate with other agencies to ensure safety at the event, including Sanders’ Secret Service detail.
“We’re pretty confident in planning with the other partners involved,” she said.
Overnight camping at Hudson’s Bay High School will not be permitted.
The gym has seating for 4,400 people, with space for 300 on the floor, said Amanda Richter, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Public Schools.
News of the rally had not interrupted the school schedule and likely wouldn’t, Richter said, with setup and preparations taking place throughout the weekend.
“As far as I know there’s nothing involving kids and teachers,” she said.
School district security will be at the rally.
