Working downtown during the 2002 Winter Games has been, in a word, convenient.
While workers went into the Olympics expecting four-hour commutes and huge hassles, little of that has panned out. In fact, the Olympics have brought little out of the ordinary for downtown workers.
And those that want to avoid all the hubbub and return quickly to their suburban sanctuaries are having an easy go of it.
"I was nervous," said Stacey Hendricks, who works at a Knighton Optical inside Eagle Gate Tower. "At our tenant meetings they said it would take four hours to get out of here."
Instead, Hendricks has cut 10 minutes off the commute from her Clinton home. As for the crowds, Hendricks has seen very few local customers and just a smattering of traffic from international visitors needing eyeglass repair.
The eyeglass store is one of many downtown that are now keeping its normal business hours. Many businesses had planned to stay open late to take advantage of the Olympic hordes while many offices planned to open early and close early to avoid rush-hour commutes.
RiteAid, on Main Street just off 100 South, is keeping a normal clock, and cashiers like Rhea Sachs couldn't be happier.
"My commute to work has been perfect," Sachs said. "I was expecting to leave like two hours early, but I just leave at the normal time."
In fact, those who drive have seemingly had it better than those who are trying mass transit during the Games.
Ben Vasquez, who rides TRAX downtown from his West Valley home, is upset that he traded his monthly parking stall for an Olympic TRAX pass.
"It's been ridiculous," said Vasquez, who works at Tommie's Donuts on the corner of State Street and South Temple. "I wish I would've just kept my parking pass."
Now, Vasquez says he has to drive to a TRAX parking lot each morning, and if he doesn't arrive before 6 a.m. the lot will be full. Then there's the wait to enter the train, which is usually stuffed with people.
"If you're driving you're smart. If you do the public transportation thing you're stupid," he said. "When I drive there's no traffic. It's like a Sunday."
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com