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TRAVEL INFORMATION
Getting To Charlottetown
APLA 2001 attendees coming from out-of-province have several transportation options for reaching Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.Auto - Ferry
Every effort will be made to keep this information current, but please check the Northumberland Ferries Web site before finalizing arrangements. Northumberland Ferries Limited joins Caribou, Nova Scotia (just outside of Pictou) to Wood Islands, PEI. The trip takes about 75 minutes, and is very relaxing and picturesque in fair weather: the ferries are vulnerable to weather-related delays, however, so please plan accordingly. Wood Islands is roughly 60 km from Charlottetown, which typically translates into 45-60 minute drive, via the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1). The 2001 ferry service is scheduled to begin May 1, with four daily crossings. Departure times from Caribou are [try to be at the terminal at least 30-45 minutes before departure]:Departure times from Wood Islands are [try to be at the terminal at least 30-45 minutes before departure]:
- 7:00am (except Sundays)
- 10:00am
- 1:30pm
- 4:30pm
- 8:00pm
The fare for a standard automobile, including passengers, is $49 (for all you rebels, the motorcycle fare, including passengers, is $32). Fares are payable upon leaving PEI through Wood Islands, so you could shaft Northumberland Ferries and save yourself a few bucks by taking the ferry from Caribou and returning to the mainland via the Confederation Bridge - but that would be a rotten thing to do to a nice bunch of people. Auto - Confederation Bridge
- 5:30am (except Sundays)
- 8:30am
- 11:30am
- 3:00pm
- 6:30pm
A huge engineering marvel and fuel for an interminable dispute between those who believe it threatens the "Island way of life" and those who view it as an engine of prosperity, the Confederation Bridge - referred to locally as "The Bridge" - joins Borden-Carleton to south-eastern New Brunswick via a 13 km span (depending on traffic, etc., this usually works out to a 15-20 minute drive). Unless you are driving from Northern Nova Scotia/Cape Breton (in which case the Caribou-Wood Islands ferry is your best bet), the Bridge offers you the fastest auto trip to the Island. Borden-Carleton is roughly 60 kms from Charlottetown, which typically translates into a 45-60 minute drive, via the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 1). The total drive time, via the Bridge, from Halifax to Charlottetown is about 3.5 - 4 hours (those traveling from elsewhere should calculate their drive time to the NS/NB border and add about 90 minutes to get an idea of the time needed to reach Charlottetown).The Bridge toll for a standard automobile, including passengers, is $37, while motorcyclists get a real break at only $14.75. Tolls are payable upon leaving PEI through Borden-Carleton. Although high winds often close the bridge to transport trucks and other high-sided vehicles, drivers of conventional autos almost never face such restrictions: winds and/or inclement weather can lead to speed limit reductions, however, and maintenance delays are frequent during the Spring and Summer months, so you may wish to call the "Bridge Line" at 1-888-437-6565 for an update on conditions before setting out on your journey.
Bus and Shuttle
SMT operates a daily bus service from Moncton, New Brunswick to Charlottetown: the trip takes roughly 2.5 - 3 hours. As of January 2001, the adult one-way fare was $34.75 - please check SMT's Web site for current schedule and fare information.A number of private van shuttle services operating on routes between Charlottetown and Halifax have been established in recent years. As of January 2001, most of these services were offering one-way fares of $45, but these may increase as the tourist season draws closer. A select listing of shuttle services is available through the PEI government's tourist information Web site. Please note that APLA 2001 does not specifically endorse any of the services listed: although no consumer scandals have yet emerged in relation to the PEI shuttle services, this industry is not very tightly regulated and the maxim "buyer beware" certainly applies.
Air
As of January 2001, only Air Canada was offering regularly scheduled service to Charlottetown - via its regional partner Air Nova - and it does not appear likely that a special "conference fare" for APLA 2001 attendees will be negotiated (if such arrangements are made, details will be posted on this site no later than February 1, 2001). A selection of charter flights should also be available through Royal Airlines and other carriers by late May. At the present time, Air Nova is offering seven daily flights into and out of the Charlottetown airport.
There is one daily flight to and from Toronto- otherwise, air travelers will have to change planes in Halifax and catch a connecting flight to Charlottetown. Up-to-date fare and scheduling information can be obtained through Air Nova's Web site, while the Charlottetown Airport Authority - offers a flight arrivals/departures schedule and local ground transportation information (see also the "Getting Around Charlottetown" section of this page). Getting Around Charlottetown
[City Map - available as an image (129k) or pdf file (144k)]
[UPEI Campus maps - 2D map or 3D map]
Charlottetown has no public transportation system, so APLA 2001 attendees will have to rely on their feet, taxis, or their own vehicles.Walking
The downtown core of Charlottetown is compact, pleasant, and safe for walking at any time of day or night, although two notes of caution are in order: while violence is rare, things can get a little ... boisterous on Friday and Saturday nights after the bars close; also, Charlottetown drivers have a reputation for being somewhat inattentive, so care should be exercised at pedestrian crossings.APLA 2001 is being held in the Delta Prince Edward, a luxury hotel and convention centre located along Charlottetown's downtown waterfront. Those staying at the Delta, then, will find virtually all APLA 2001 events taking place on-site, while a good selection of shops, eateries and cultural/entertainment venues are all within a few minutes walk.
The Best Western Charlottetown is also very close to downtown, and is only a 10-15 minute walk from the Delta Prince Edward. Those who opt to stay on the UPEI campus will have to rely on taxis or their own vehicles, however, as the campus is nearly 2 kms from the downtown and the Delta. With the exception of a grocery store, some fast food outlets, and the Charlottetown Mall (which has a multi-screen cinema), there are few amenities and no cultural/entertainment venues within an easy walk of UPEI. "The Panther Lounge", UPEI's student pub, may be open at certain hours during the conference weekend.
Taxis
Charlottetown cabs have no meters. Instead, all of the city's taxi companies have a standard fare structure - as of January 2001, this was roughly as follows:
* Within the downtown area - $3.75 + $1 per additional passenger;
* UPEI to downtown - $4.75 + $1 per additional passenger;
* Airport to downtown - $10 for single passenger/ multiple passengers - $8 first passenger + $4 for each additional passenger.The three main taxi companies are:
Driving and Parking
* City Cab - 892-6567 or 892-6568 or 892-6566
* Co-op Taxi - 628-8200 or 892-1111
* Yellow Cab - 566-6666
As in many communities, the cleanliness of the vehicle and the overall quality of your taxi trip in Charlottetown depend more on the individual driver than on the cab company, so there is really very little to choose between these three companies. Generally, the quality of service ranges from fair to good - Charlottetown cabbies tend to be chatty, so have your weather observations and sports predictions ready. Tipping for good service is generally advisable, as cabbies are poorly-paid. When you call for a cab, the dispatchers will want to know where you are going - they will usually not take your name, though, so be ready to meet the cab to ensure that it doesn't get "poached." You may have to wait 15-20 minutes for a cab to arrive, however, especially if you are calling from UPEI.
As has already been mentioned, a relatively low volume of traffic and a generally relaxed pace of life have conspired over the years to produce a fairly ... casual attitude amongst many Island motorists, so be prepared for unsignalled turns and lane changes, etc. Otherwise, driving tends to be pleasant and relatively hassle-free. Charlottetown does not have much of a "rush hour," but the roads are quite busy during normal business hours on weekdays and Saturdays, especially in the downtown core. Those driving between UPEI and downtown should note that University Avenue is a major traffic artery, and a poorly-planned one at that: Queen Street, which runs virtually parallel to University one block to the south, may often prove a faster route, and has the additional virtue of running in a straight line leading directly to the Delta's entrance, greatly easing downtown navigation. Regardless of your route, you should allow about 10 - 15 minutes to drive from UPEI to downtown. The day-time parking situation in downtown Charlottetown is not nearly as bad as some locals say, but it's not all that great, either. The Delta has a parkade, charging $1/hour, to a maximum of $8/day, while the Pownal Parkade (368-3653) is located only a few blocks from the Delta and offers very reasonable rates: 60 cents/hour, to a maximum of $3.60/day. If you choose not to pay for a parkade, however, you should allow at least an extra 10 - 15 minutes to find a parking space on surrounding streets. Metered parking is the norm on downtown streets, at a rate of 50 cents/hour with a 2 hour time limit: note that most metered spaces are of the old-style, diagonal, "nose-in" variety, which many seem quaint until you have to back out into traffic. If you're prepared to walk an extra block or two, un-metered, curb-side parking can usually be found on side streets, but a 1 or 2 hour time limit will apply in many such areas. Parking enforcement is quite rigorous, especially in metered zones, so you can expect a ticket if you overstay your time (the fine for a meter violation is only $5 if paid within 7 days). There are no restrictions on overnight street parking, except in designated no-parking zones: vehicle-related theft and vandalism are quite rare in Charlottetown, but vehicles left unattended on the street overnight obviously present tempting targets ...
APLA attendees staying at UPEI should note that on-campus parking is free from May to August, except for a small number of clearly-signposted "Reserved" spaces. Additional information can be found in the Prince Edward Island Visitors Guide or you may order a printed version of the guide.
Information about accommodations is also available.
Please contact Simon Lloyd, APLA 2001 Accommodation and Transportation Coordinator, with any transportation related questions or concerns.
Telephone: (902) 566-0536
E-mail: slloyd@upei.ca
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