Squamish is remembered more for its eight traffic lights on the way to Whistler than much else, according to one local businessman. (CBC)

Many people in the B.C. community of Squamish say they don't expect to see the benefits they hoped for from the 2010 Games, despite the town's prime location halfway between the two Olympic centres of Vancouver and Whistler.

"Squamish isn't very enthusiastic right now about the Olympics," said Sylvie Paillard, editor of the Squamish newspaper, The Chief.

Many of the expected Olympic benefits the town of 15,000 was hoping for have failed to materialize, Paillard told CBC News Friday.

"In the [Vancouver Olympic] bid book there were [promises of] at least attempts at trying to build a ferry terminal, and also to get some trains to come through here as well."

But the ferry wasn't happening and the trains will not be stopping at the town, Paillard said.

It looks like many buses carrying Olympic tourists on the 100-kilometre Sea-to-Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler will not be stopping either, said Paillard.

"We're that little pain in the neck in the middle between Vancouver and Whistler, the one with the eight traffic lights," said Gregory Fischer, owner of a local gelato shop and a past president of the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association.

Rental surge never came

Fischer said he feels the Olympics have bypassed his town and that Games organizers have reneged on their promises.

"Everything is getting more expensive because of the Olympics," he said.

"We're paying more taxes, it's just skyrocketing. And the feeling is that we're not allowed to make any money."

An expected surge in demand for rental accommodation also hasn't happened.

Many of the Olympic-related benefits expected for Squamish have not materialized, says newspaper editor Sylvie Paillard. (CBC)

Fully furnished suites will lie vacant during the Olympics, even at half the price of Whistler, according to broker Danielle Dobson.

"For the people that just wanted to rent houses out for one month or two months … I've rented [out] one of those in Squamish," said Dobson.

Highway improvements appreciated

With the feeling that there's no upside from the Olympics, some residents just want to get away in February, said Paillard.

"Most of the people say they want to leave town because they anticipate a lot of the nuisances [and] the problems without any of the benefits."

One Olympic benefit most Squamish residents do appreciate is the more than $600 million in improvements to the highway.

It's made the trip to Squamish from Vancouver much quicker.

But that's not much help if people don't want to stop, said Dobson.