Getting Around

Edmonton offers an ease of access that is the envy of larger cities, while maintaining the big city centre conveniences of major freeways and light rail transit.

Planes

Edmonton is served by the Edmonton International Airport, Canada's fifth busiest airport. Located 29 km from downtown, several national and regional airlines serve the city, including: AirBC, Air Canada, Air Transat, Canada 3000, Canadian North, Canadian Regional, Horizon Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Martinair, Northwest Airlines, First Air, Royal Airlines and WestJet. With the recently-opened $127-million South Terminal, passengers and visitors to the airport will notice a variety of improvements designed to make coming to the airport a more pleasant experience.

Some of the more notable changes include expanded Canada and U.S.Customs areas, a larger "meet and greet" area for arriving passengers, more space at airline check-in counters, larger baggage carousels and more retail and food services. Other changes include check-in for all Air Canada/Canadian flights relocated to the new terminal. One-stop or non-stop flights bound for the U.S. now depart from the new terminal, and charter services (Canada 3000, Air Transat, Royal Airlines) have new check-in counters in the North Terminal. A passenger bridge connects to the terminal and parkade. The South Terminal is the centrepiece to a four-phase process designed to enable the airport to handle both the current passenger traffic and future growth. Work has already begun on an 1,870-square foot Central Hall, which will connect the south and north terminals. Edmonton offers daily non-stop flights to five major American hub airports: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Denver, Seattle, Chicago and Los Angeles. Summer service to London is scheduled. For flight reservations, arrivals, departures, please call airlines directly. For customer service and general information, call (780) 890-8382.

Transfers
Cab fare from the International Airport to the city centre is approximately $35. The fares to other locations are at the metered rate. Sky Shuttle Bus services are available for $11 one-way or $18 return to downtown, west end or the University of Alberta.

Trains

The Light Rail Transit bridge, which spans the North Saskatchewan River, also offers pedestrian crossing.

VIA Rail's internationally-known transcontinental train, The Canadian, operates six times per week through Edmonton. Rail passengers can travel east on VIA to Saskatoon, Winnipeg or Toronto or head west to Jasper, Kamloops and Vancouver. VIA's depot is located at 12360­121 St. For reservations, call 1-800-561-8630.

Automobiles
Edmonton is on the Trans-Canada Highway, considered the most reliable and quickest route across Western Canada. The four-lane divided highway spans Alberta and connects to Prince Rupert and Vancouver in British Columbia, as well as the Yukon, North West Territories/ Nunavut and Alaska. Located near the geographic centre of Alberta, Edmonton is 514 kilometres (320 miles) north of the Montana, U.S.A./ Canada border; 294 km (184 miles) north of Calgary; 362 km (226 miles) east of Jasper; 404 km (252 miles) northeast of Banff.

Greyhound Bus Lines
(1-800-661-8747) provides excellent service to Edmonton from anywhere in North America. Service to and from Calgary, Red Deer and Fort McMurray is also available from Red Arrow (1-800-232-1958). There are several transportation and tour companies which offer local excursions.

Getting Around

Transcontinental trains connect Alberta to the west coast.

The majority of streets and avenues in Edmonton are designated by number rather than name, making it easy to locate addresses. Numbered avenues run east and west while numbered streets run north and south. A list is located in the white pages of the telephone directory. Edmonton Transit Service is a quick and easy option to major facilities such as Commonwealth Stadium, Skyreach Centre, Northlands Park downtown and the University of Alberta. Free travel on Edmonton Transit is included in the ticket price to athletic events during the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton Aug.3-12. Free travel is limited to the date of your event ticket(s). For fare information, call customer information at 496-1611. Cabs are usually on hand at hotels, shopping centres and major venues. In areas where there is no taxi stand, it's usually quicker to telephone for service rather than hailing a cab.

© 2001 Copyright Tanner Young Marketing Ltd. This article can not be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written permission.