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Calgary Transportation

Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Calgary
Light Rail Transit (LRT)
by madamx
Tips for getting around Calgary posted by real travelers and Calgary locals.
Local Time 7:42 pm Friday, July 25, 2008
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Popular Transportation | Miscellaneous Transportation Tips | All Tips (81)
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Plus 15 elevated walkways.
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  • Walkway links two buildings - Calgary
    Walkway links two buildings
    by dabidc
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    Calgary has grown in size over the past 35 years from 300,000 people in 1966 to just under a Million people in 2003.

    There has been much building in both the suburbs and in particular in the downtown business area. A vast amount of this construction has been high rise offices and apartments. As I have mentioned the Winters can be cold and do last for about 5 to 6 months . Walking the downtown streets and avenues can be a cold bleak experience. One tremendous innovation that started way back in the late 1960's or early 1970's was the construction of a plus 15 walkway system that is covered and in some cases heated in Winter and air conditioned in Summer.

    In general terms these walkways have been added to buildings as they were bulit and in some cases there was retrofit arrangements, so that it is possible to walk several blocks and not descend to the street level. The full system has yet to be completed, there are a few gaps yet to be completed.

    The Plus 15 refers to the original height above street level in the Imperial units that were in use in those days, the 15 is feet above the pavement.

    There are no doubt other cities with the same system, one I believe is Minneapolis-St Paul.

    The photo shows the elevated walkway in the mid distance, above the traffic, linking the high rise building on the right and the Palliser Hotel on the left.

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    Fly Zoom
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  • I really was not looking forward to the flight too many hours couped up in a small space.
    We left Manchester at 7.55am & arrived in Calgary at 9.55am Hardly seemed any time at all until you add on the time difference.
    After all my trepidations I found myself enjoying this comfortable & relaxed flight.
    The picture shows the prairies which goes on for many many miles.

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  • Theme: Airplane
  • Website: flyzoom.com

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    Small Rental Car
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  • Because we had one daughter living in Cold Lake, on the border with Saskatchewan, and another in Calgary we booked our flight into Edmonton, which is roughly half-way between the two places.

    I got a pretty good deal on the rental car from Budget, a Compact Toyota Echo with automatic transmission and unlimited mileage. It ended up costing us US$270 for the 10 days, plus gas of course (prices were about US$0.58 per litre). By the time we had driven from Edmonton to Cold Lake to Calgary and back to Edmonton we had put almost 2000 km on it. It was amazing how far it could go for the cost of gas - the 3-hour drive to Cold Lake only took US$13 to top the tank up again. I did miss cruise control a bit but the temperatures were pleasant so I did not really miss having no A/C either!

    The Echo was great for driving around in Calgary since some of the streets near my daughter's place had parking along both sides, so it could be a little tight when meeting on-coming traffic. It was also handy for squeezing into any available parking spot at the Best Western Suites. I was amazed at the size of its trunk (boot) - it could handle three large suitcases and still had room to spare!

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    Let the Train Take the Strain
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  • Calgary's light rail transit lines of 201 and 202 offer free travel within the downtown district of 7th. Avenue but if you want to travel further in the city you have to buy a ticket. The rail system operates on a proof of purchase payment system, tickets are available from ticket vending machines and ticket booths around the city. During rush hour trains run every five minutes, off peak times are every ten to fifteen minutes.

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  • Theme: Train
  • Website: www.viarail.ca

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    A Car is Probably Best
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  • Light Rail Transit (LRT) - Calgary
    Light Rail Transit (LRT)
    by madamx
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    Even though the city has vastly improved it's transit system, a car is still the best choice for transportation in Calgary and surrounding areas. If you need to go downtown during the weekdays, the transit system is your best bet, as you'll pay a premium for parking, if you can find it!

    The bus and LRT (light rail transit) system runs well during rush hours and fairly well during the day, but really slows down in the evening after 6:00pm. Adult fare is $2.00.

    LRT service is free in the downtown core, from 10th St NW, to 1st St. SW.; good to know when you're lugging all those heavy shopping bags.

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  • Theme: Car/Motor Home
  • Phone: (403) 262-1000
  • Website: www.calgarytransit.com

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    More Plus 15 pedestrain bridges.
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  • there are more than 40 of these plus 15 bridges crossing the streets abd Avenues in downtown Calgary. It is not yet possible to walk from east to west, threi is a gap in the middle, but the north south axis is better provided for.

    Remember these bridges are not necessarily straight ahead all the time, you need to pick up a map of refer to the maps set out on pedestals on the route.

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    A bridge across the Transit corridor.
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  • As new buildings take shape in the downtown core, these links increase in number.

    Elsewhere in this page I will show some of the high rise office buildings that have been built over the past 20 years.

    the downtown area is generally considered as being between the rail tracks at 9th Ave and the Bow river to the north.The east west boundaries are from 6th Street S/E to 11 st S.W.

    In effect the number of city blocks is approx 150, the approximation is simply because the river bows out in the centre, so the total area looks like a D on its side. The Loop of the D is the course of the Bow river. The straight line is parallel to the rail tracks or 9th Ave S.W.

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    LRT or C- Train as seen from Reader Rock Gardens.
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  • The Light Rail Transit system started about 20 years ago and now links the South, the N.E and the N.W parts of the City with the Downtown core.

    A bus service is integral with the train service and links with the train stations as well as cross town routes.

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    Airport Shuttle Express
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  • We found out about the Airport Shuttle Express service from the guys who owned the B&B we would be staying in.

    It's a great service. They go from the airport to any hotel, B&B, Inn etc within Calgary, 24hrs a day. Much more convenient and practical (and no doubt friendlier) than just jumping in a cab.

    You can find the Airport Shuttle Express counter in the main terminal of Calgary Airport on the arrivals level (just outside Canada Customs).

    The service uses mini buses that hold around 6-8 people, so you will have to share.

    It cost around $20 total for 2 of us.

    The Airport Shuttle Express is well worth considering if you haven't already arranged transport from the Airport to your hotel (or other accomodation).

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  • Phone: (403) 509-4799
  • Website: www.airportshuttleexpress.com

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    Driving the freeway (Deerfoot Trail)
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  • When driving through Calgary on the Deerfoot, be prepared for fast speeds and crazy drivers!

    There were two signs prevalent alongside the road:

    "Smart Decisions Reduce Collisions"

    "No Slow Drivers"

    Hello? Does that make sense to anyone else?

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    More Calgary Tips
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