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A car is your best mode of transportation in Phoenix. The city sprawls over more than 800 square miles of desert; the transit system is sporadic and covers only a small fraction of the metropolitan area. The city streets, which are laid out in a strict north-south/east-west grid pattern, were developed with automobile travel in mind, making it easy for motorists to find their way around. There are no diagonal cross streets, however, so allow additional time to negotiate the grid when your destination lies to the northwest, northeast, southwest, or southeast. Phoenix's freeway system is efficient and continually expanding. An up-to-date map or routing product is your best bet for negotiating these highways.
| Public Transport |
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Bus: Valley Metro (602-253-5000) operates Phoenix's city bus service. Although it is improving, bus service in Phoenix is not a convenient method of transportation, but a light rail system will debut in 2008. Local fare is $1.25, express fare is $1.75, and discount 10-ride ticket books and daily passes are available. You can even pay your fare with a credit or debit card. Most communities offer Dial-A-Ride services (602-253-4000 for Phoenix). Within the downtown area, you can hop on Copper Square DASH, the Downtown Area Shuttle. DASH will take you from the State Capitol to the Arizona Center for free, stopping at various points along the route. It runs every six to twelve minutes between 6:30 am and 11 pm, Monday through Friday. Taxis: For taxi service, you must call for dispatch. Except for service from the airport, Phoenix's cab companies are unregulated, so fares will vary. In general, fares are $1.50 to get in, $1.75 for each subsequent mile, and $0.48 per minute of waiting. Given how spread out the metropolitan area is, cab rides across town can be quite expensive; if cost is a concern, ask the driver for an estimate before you hop in.
| Airport |
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 Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) is a mere three miles from downtown Phoenix. Its three compact terminals belie the fact that it is one of the country's busiest airports. The airport is easy to negotiate and a trip to the heart of Phoenix should take only ten minutes or so. It is convenient to Phoenix's freeway system, too. Transportation from the airport to Phoenix destinations:Many of Phoenix's resorts offer courtesy van service; hotel phones are located near the baggage claim areas. Public Transit: Valley Metro runs bus service from outside the baggage claim areas of all terminals to downtown Phoenix. The trip takes about 15 minutes, with service about every half hour from early morning to mid-evening. Shuttle: SuperShuttle (602-244-9000) offers round-the-clock, door-to-door service to all areas of metropolitan Phoenix. Reservations for your return trip should be made 24 hours in advance. Taxi: Three taxi companies -- Allstate (602-275-8888), AAA Cab (602-437-4000), and Discount (602-266-1110) -- are licensed to pick up passengers at Sky Harbor. Fares from the airport are regulated, with an additional $1 airport surcharge added onto the bill. Expect to pay $10-$12 for a ride downtown.
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Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport