The Olympic flame is lighting up the City of Hamilton and Niagara Region.
Transit passengers should expect delays or detours as the Olympic Torch Relay to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games leaves downtown Hamilton and passes through Stoney Creek, Fruitland and Winona before leaving the amalgamated City of Hamilton and passing into Niagara Region. It then travels to Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan, St. Catharines, Thorold, Virgil, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Queenston and finally ends up in Niagara Falls on Saturday, December 19.
The City of St. Catharines hosts a celebration to welcome the torch. Free buses shuttle celebrants to and from the event.
The Olympic Torch Relay affects these routes on December 18:
GO Transit — 12 Niagara Falls - Burlington, 18 Hamilton - Aldershot.
Hamilton Street Railway — 1 King, 2 Barton, 4 Bayfront, 5 Delaware, 5C West Hamilton, 5E Delaware - Greenhill, 6 Aberdeen, 7 Locke, 11 Parkdale, 21 Upper Kenilworth, 22 Upper Ottawa, 23 Upper Gage, 24 Upper Sherman, 25 Upper Wentworth, 26 Upper Wellington, 27 Upper James, 33 Sanatorium, 34 Upper Paradise, 35 College, 41 Mohawk, 52 Dundas, 55 Stoney Creek central, 58 Stoney Creek local.
Niagara Falls Transit — 2 Jubilee, 5 Woodbine, 6 Chippewa - Crosstown.
St. Catharines Transit Commission — 20 Thorold - Pen Centre, 21 Confederation - Brock, 101 Martindale - Lakeshore, 102 Ontario St., 104 Oakdale - Pen Centre, 106 Lake St., 108 Grantham - Port Weller, 109 Geneva St., 110 Glenridge - Pen Centre, 112 Vine St., 115 West St. Catharines, 116 Brock - Glenridge, 117 Bunting - Lakeshore, 118 Secord Woods, Olympic Torch shuttle.
Hamilton
Includes Stoney Creek and Fruitland
After spending the night in Hamilton, the torch continues its journey toward Vancouver.
The Hamilton Police Service and the City of Hamilton temporarily close and then re-open streets to traffic to protect the safety of the torchbearers and their companions.
On December 20, the torch starts in Hamilton on the campus of McMaster University on College Crescent west of University Avenue around 7:05 a.m., then proceeds:
eastward along College,
south- and eastward along University Avenue;
through the McMaster University Children’s Hospital; and then
northward along Forsythe Avenue South to Arnold Street,
arriving at about 7:21 a.m.
The torch then travels by convoy to Main Street West and Bay Street South, arriving at about 7:25 a.m. It then proceeds:
eastward along Main Streets West and East and Queenston Road to east of Jones Road in Fruitland, arriving at about 8:44 a.m.
The Olympic Torch Relay affects GO Transit and Hamilton Street Railway services on Sunday, December 20.
GO Transit
18 Hamilton - Aldershot
Passengers on the Aldershot-bound bus that leaves the Hamilton GO Centre at 7:35 a.m. may expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Hamilton Street Railway
6 Aberdeen
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
2 Barton
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
4 Bayfront
From about 8:15 until 8:45 a.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Queenston Road at Nash Road.
35 College
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
5 Delaware
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Main Streets West and East between Bay and Wellington Streets South.
5E Delaware - Greenhill
From about 7:15 until 8:15 a.m., passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Main Streets West and East between Bay Street South and King Street East (“the Delta”).
52 Dundas
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
1 King
From about 7:30 until 8 a.m., inbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Main Street East and Queenston Road between King Street East (“the Delta”) and Fiesta Mall.
From about 7:30 until 9 a.m., outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Main Street East and Queenston Road between John Street South and Fiesta Mall.
About 7:30 a.m., inbound passengers should also expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
7 Locke
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
41 Mohawk
From about 8 until 8:30 a.m. north- and southbound passengers should expect detours and delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at Ottawa Street and at Kenilworth Avenue.
11 Parkdale
From about 8:15 until 8:45 a.m., north- and southbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Queenston Road at Parkdale Avenue.
33 Sanatorium
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
55 Stoney Creek central
From about 8:45 until 9:45 a.m., west- and eastbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queenston Road between Eastgate Terminal and Jones Road.
58 Stoney Creek local
From about 8:30 until 9 a.m., west- and eastbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes Queenston Road at Centennial Parkway.
From about 9:15 until 9:45 a.m., eastbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queenston Road between Green Road and King Street East.
23 Upper Gage
27 Upper James
21 Upper Kenilworth
22 Upper Ottawa
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
34 Upper Paradise
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Streets West and East between Bay and John Streets South.
23 Upper Sherman
26 Upper Wellington
25 Upper Wentworth
From about 7:15 until 7:45 a.m., inbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East at John Street South.
Outbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street at James Street South.
5C West Hamilton
From about 8 until 8:15 a.m., passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Main Street East between King Street East (“the Delta”) and Ottawa Street.
Niagara Falls
After leaving Queenston, the Olympic Torch arrives in Niagara Falls.
The Niagara Regional Police Service, the Region of Niagara and the City of Niagara Falls temporarily close and then re-open streets to traffic to protect the safety of the torchbearers and their companions.
On December 20, the torch starts it journey through Niagara Falls on Victoria Avenue at Bridge Street around 5:57 p.m., then proceeds:
southward along Victoria;
westward along Queen Street;
southward along River Road;
westward along Clifton Hill;
southward along Victoria;
westward along Ferry Street;
southward along Stanley Avenue;
eastward along Murray Street; and then
southward along the Niagara River to Table Rock,
arriving at about 7 p.m.
The Olympic Torch Relay affects GO Transit and Niagara Falls Transit services in Niagara Falls on December 20.
GO Transit
12 Niagara Falls - Burlington
Around 6 p.m., westbound passengers should expect delays as the torch passes along Victoria Avenue at Bridge Street.
Niagara Falls Transit
6 Chippewa - Crosstown
From about 6:30 until 7 p.m., north- and southbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Stanley Avenue between Robinson and Murray Streets.
2 Jubilee
From about 6 until 6:30 p.m., inbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queen Street between Victoria Avenue and River Road.
Outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queen Street between Erie and Victoria Avenues.
From about 6:15 until 6:45 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Ferry Street between Ellen and Stanley Avenues.
5 Woodbine
From about 6 until 6:30 p.m., inbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queen Street between Ontario Avenue and River Road.
Outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Queen Street between Erie and Victoria Avenues.
From about 6:15 until 6:45 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Ferry Street between Ellen and Stanley Avenues.
St. Catharines
After leaving Jordan, the Olympic Torch arrives in St. Catharines.
The Niagara Regional Police Service, the Region of Niagara and the City of St. Catharines temporarily close and then re-open streets to traffic to protect the safety of the torchbearers and their companions.
On December 20, the torch starts it journey through St. Catharines on Lake Street, south of the Queen Elizabeth Way, around 12:32 p.m., then proceeds:
southward along Lake;
eastward along Welland Avenue;
southward along Geneva Street;
westward along Church Street;
southward along Wellington Street;
westward along King Street;
southward along Ontario Street, Westchester Crescent and Glenridge Avenue;
eastward along Glendale Avenue; and then
southward along Burleigh Hill Road to St. David’s Road,
arriving at about 2:54 p.m.
The Olympic Torch Relay affects St. Catharines Transit Commission services in St. Catharines on December 20.
116 Brock - Glenridge
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
From about 2 until 3 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glenridge Avenue between Westchester Crescent and Glendale Avenue.
117 Bunting - Lakeshore
109 Geneva St.
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
110 Glenridge - Pen Centre
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
From about 2 until 3 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glenridge Avenue between Westchester Crescent and Glen Morris Drive.
108 Grantham - Port Weller
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
106 Lake St.
From about 12:15 until 12:45 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Lake Street between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Welland Avenue.
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
101 Martindale - Lakeshore
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
104 Oakdale - Pen Centre
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
From about 2:30 until 3 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glendale Avenue between the Pen Centre and Burleigh Hill Road.
102 Ontario St.
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
Olympic Torch shuttle
Free shuttle buses operate from Seymour Hannah Four Pad Arena on St. Paul Street to St. Paul and James Streets in downtown St. Catharines from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Return shuttles operate from St. Paul and James to the arena from 2:30 until 4 p.m.
118 Secord Woods
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
From about 2:30 until 3 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glendale Avenue between the Pen Centre and Burleigh Hill Road.
20 Thorold - Pen Centre
From about 2:30 until 3 p.m., north- and southbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glendale Avenue between the Pen Centre and Burleigh Hill Road and along Burleigh Hill between Glendale and St. David’s Road.
The Olympic Torch Relay also affects service along this route when it passes through Thorold.
112 Vine St.
From about 12:15 until 12:45 p.m., inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Lake Street between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Russell Street.
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
115 West St. Catharines
From about 12:45 until 2 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes through downtown St. Catharines.
From about 2:30 until 3 p.m. inbound and outbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Glendale Avenue between Glenridge Avenue and the Pen Centre.
After leaving St. Catharines, the torch heads into Thorold.
Thorold
After leaving St. Catharines, the Olympic Torch arrives in Thorold.
The Niagara Regional Police Service, the Region of Niagara and the City of Thorold temporarily close and then re-open streets to traffic to protect the safety of the torchbearers and their companions.
On December 20, the torch starts its journey through Thorold on Collier Road North at St. Davids Road around 2:54 p.m., then proceeds:
southward along Collier North;
eastward along Sullivan Avenue; and then
northward along Front Streets South and North to Town Line Road,
arriving at about 3:18 p.m.
The Olympic Torch Relay affects St. Catharines Transit Commission services in Thorold on December 20.
21 Confederation - Brock
From about 3 until 3:30 p.m., north- and southbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Sullivan Avenue between Towpath Terminal and Collier Road.
20 Thorold - Pen Centre
From about 3 until 3:30 p.m., northbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Sullivan Avenue between Pine Street and the Towpath Terminal.
Southbound passengers should expect detours or delays as the torch passes along Collier Road North between St. Davids Road and Sullivan Avenue, Front Street North between Sullivan Avenue and St. Davids Road and Sullivan Avenue between Towpath Terminal and Front.
The Olympic Torch Relay also affects service along this route when it passes through St. Catharines.
Inbound buses operate toward downtown.
Outbound buses operate away from downtown.