Actually I became part of Team Summit, as a traffic observer in Summit County Utah for the Utah Olympic Park, Park City Resort, Deer Valley, and Silver Summit Park and Ride.  Team leaders were Ritchie Taylor and Basharat Siddiqi. Team members were myself, Betty Purdie, Dave Blake, Brad Cameron, Peter Jager, Steve Park, Blain Major, Alan Loiacono, and Tam Southwick. 

Together we worked with other Utah Department of Transportation employees to provide the best service we could on our state highway system.  The trick to all this was to remain in the background if possible.  Not to intervene with traffic, but ratter make the call that congestion is approaching or even accommodated.
 
 

The hours were long and surprisingly not tedious. Traffic observation can give you a headache but it is ever changing.  I never became bored from the traffic rather I was amazed at people not heeding the traffic control signs or choosing not to.  Why would people with an Olympic ticket show up two and a half hours into a three hour event?

Essential to our operation was the ability to communicate with each other as well as individuals and other agencies outside the Department. We met several times twice a week for several months prior to the February 8, 2002 Opening Ceremony day. Scenarios detailing predicted traffic flows had been developed as well as traffic control plans. Only actual traffic and event timing would reveal the limitations or success of our efforts.

Team Summit was equipped with 800 megahertz handheld radios for primary communication in addition to our cell phones. Our mounts were rental trucks, outfitted with roadside emergency items capable of minor assistance for stalled or lost motorists.

Down time and shift end were utilized for team discussion.  What did learn today?, What can we improve on?, and What happened new today? were the basic topics.

"Old Dodge, the truck" became my home and friend for the 17 days of the Winter Games. I was actually a little sad to leave "Dodge" after the many Olympic experiences we had had together.

Coveted most of all was the Olympic jacket issued to all involved on the State level. Not as jazzy as other SLOC coats. The coat was a nice touch and it made you an official team member.