Transportation
From Calgarypedia
Contents |
Overview
Calgary has a vast and well-defined transportation network that includes air, rail, vehicle traffic and public transit. The city is an important shipping and freight centre as it sits on the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway and the CANAMEX Corridor, a highway that runs from Canada to Mexico.
Traveling To and From Calgary
Main Article: Traveling To and From Calgary
Air
Almost all commuter air traffic and freight shipping passes through the Calgary International Airport (YYC). It is the largest airport in the region and one of two international airports in the province. Located in the northeastern portion of the city, the airport has close access to major ground routes such as Deerfoot Trail.
In 2008, Calgary International was the fourth busiest airport in Canada with 12.5 million passengers and 246,370 aircraft movements. The airport primarily serves destinations in Canada, but does have regularly scheduled flights to major U.S. cities as well as seasonal vacation destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean and other international destinations including Frankfurt, London and Amsterdam.
Calgary International is a hub for WestJet Airlines and a regional hub for Air Canada. There are approximately 30 passenger airlines with regularly scheduled flights to and from the airport. Cargo airlines that have hub operations at Calgary International include DHL, FedEX, Purolator and United Parcel Service.
Calgary's second airport, Calgary/Springbank Airport, is located in the western suburb of Springbank and handles the majority of private flights. It acts as a reliever for the main airport.
Rail
Calgary is a major rail hub for North America. Goods arrive in Calgary via rail from Port Vancouver and are redistributed to major centres throughout Canada and the United States. The opening of the CANAMEX Corridor allows for uninterrupted transit south to Mexico City. The Canadian Pacific Rail mainline forms the southern boundary between downtown and the residential Beltline area.
Passenger rail travels through Calgary as well, although it is all tourist related. The nearest passenger rail service that offers service to major Canadian destinations is in Edmonton. The Rocky Mountains by train is a popular tourist attraction. This tour originates in Calgary before heading west.
Bus
Greyhound bus lines operate routes to Calgary from all over Canada. The main Greyhound terminal in Calgary is located just west of the downtown core. They offer passenger as well as cargo service.
Red Arrow Motorcoach also operates bus services from Calgary to Red Deer, Edmonton, Banff & Lake Louise and Fort McMurray.
Getting Around
Main Article: Getting Around
Roads and Streets
Traffic infrastructure in Calgary is based on a grid system with numerous freeways and expressways supplementing the smaller streets. Numbered streets run from north to south and avenues run from east to west. The city is divided into four quadrants: northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest, and all street names and addresses end with suffixes corresponding to the quadrant of the city (NW, NE, SE or SW). The central point of the quadrant system is the Centre Street Bridge. Generally, freeways do not conform to the grid system and are named trails rather than numbers.
Major Streets
14th Street W 16 Avenue N (Highway 1/Trans Canada Highway) 17th Avenue S 52nd Street E Anderson Road Barlow Trail Beddington Trail Blackfoot Trail Bow Trail Centre Street Crowchild Trail Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2/Queen Elizabeth II Highway) Glenmore Trail Macleod Trail Marquis of Lorne Trail (Highway 22X) McKnight Boulevard Memorial Drive Métis Trail Sarcee Trail Shaganappi Trail Stoney Trail
Calgary Transit
Main Article: Calgary Transit
Calgary’s public transportation system is run by Calgary Transit, which operates within the Calgary city limits.
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
The light rail transit system in Calgary is known as the C-Train. It consists of 48.8 km of track connecting 37 stations. It was one of the first systems of its kind in North America and has one of the highest ridership rates with 297,500 daily boardings.
The McKnight-City Centre line serves downtown and the northeast, while the Crowfoot-Somerset line runs between the northwest and south Calgary via downtown. There is no cost for travel along the 7th Avenue transit mall, which runs through downtown.
A new west leg of the LRT is set to begin construction next year, which will extend service to Calgarians living west of the downtown.
The city operates a Park ‘N’ Ride system that allows residents to drive to the nearest C-Train station, park their car and then ride the train into downtown. Because of the program’s popularity, Park ‘N’ Ride lots are often full before 8 a.m. As of 2009, Park ‘N’ Ride lots cost $3 per day to park during normal weekday working hours.
Buses
Calgary Transit also has a system of buses with routes stretching over the entire city. It has won several awards for its efficiency and its environmental responsibility. It consists of over 160 bus routes and covers over 4,500 km.
Driver's Licence and Vehicle Registration
Main Article: Driver's Licence and Vehicle Registration
In order to drive a car in Calgary, the operator must possess a valid driver’s license and their vehicle must be registered and insured. Calgary has a private insurance system, so there are several options available. Rates vary and are largely dependent on previous driving history. Driver’s licenses are available through the Alberta government; applicants must complete a written and road test to qualify.
Parking in Calgary
Main Article: Parking in Calgary
The downtown area is punctuated with parking garages for commuters who drive to work. Rates for these garages vary, but typically are $15 or more per day. Many major corporations downtown offer employee parking at a reduced rate.
The City of Calgary has recently adopted the new “Park Plus” system which aims to make the parking experience downtown easier for residents. For a full explanation of how the Park Plus system works, see the main article.
Criticisms
Calgary is a commuter city, which causes congestion on many of the major routes during peak times. Various construction projects are currently underway to alleviate the extra pressure put on thoroughfares by an expanding population. However, construction of these expansions only serves to worsen the traffic situation in the short term with detours and lane closures.
The condition of the roads is also a concern. With thousands upon thousands of cars passing over major routes daily, roadways break down and need repair. Often construction crews have trouble keeping up with these repairs.
A ring road is slowly being built around Calgary (Stoney Trail). Most of the northwest leg is either finished or under construction, with a partially finished section from the Trans Canada Highway in the west to Centre Street in the north. The northeast portion is under construction as is the entire east portion. Marquis of Lorne Trail will become part of the ring road once the east part is finished. The southwest section is severely delayed due to collapsed negotiations with the Tsuu T'ina nation and now requires a new plan before it can be built.
During peak hours, Calgary Transit has high loads, making most popular routes crowded. The C-Train also suffers from cramped quarters during peak times. Calgary Transit studies ridership patterns to efficiently route transit lines and add extra buses and trains improve these conditions. A transition is in development to change C-Trains from 3 cars to 4 cars per train. Before this change can occur, the downtown stations have to be rebuilt to accommodate the longer trains.
