Midlands residents have plenty of choices for getting into, out of and around the Columbia area.
Buses, trains and an airport are all within reach.
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport offers daily nonstop flights to about a dozen U.S. cities.
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Midlands residents have plenty of choices for getting into, out of and around the Columbia area.
Buses, trains and an airport are all within reach.
The Columbia Metropolitan Airport offers daily nonstop flights to about a dozen U.S. cities.
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The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority has struggled financially in the past few months but still maintains routes throughout the Columbia area, though service is limited in the Cayce and West Columbia areas.
Following is a list of transportation options:
Amtrak
Address: 850 Pulaski St.
Phone: (800) 872-7245 for reservations or (803) 252-8246 in the morning.
Web site: www.amtrak.com
Automobiles
AAA Carolinas
Dutch Square
810 Dutch Square Blvd.
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 798-9205
(800) 274-9205
Several companies — among them Enterprise and Hertz — have locations around Columbia, including the airport, for car rentals.
Taxi
Most local taxi companies offer 24-hour dispatch service, sending out drivers shortly after your call. Some companies will occasionally pick up curbside hailers, too.
Area taxi companies include:
Blue Ribbon Taxi Cab Corp., (803) 754-8163
Capitol City Cab, (803) 233-8294
Checker Yellow Cab Co., (803) 799-3311
Classic Taxi Cab Co., (803) 348-0662
Lexington Cab Co., (803) 356-1066
Greyhound
2015 Gervais St., Columbia
907 S. Broad St., Camden (Southeastern Stages)
Tickets can be purchased at the stations, online at www.greyhound.com or by calling (800) 231-2222.
Local buses
Central Midlands RegionalTransit Authority
In general, buses start to run at:
5:15 a.m. Monday through Friday
5:40 a.m. Saturday
7:05 a.m. Sunday
Service stops at:
10:45 p.m. Monday through Saturday
8:30 p.m. Sunday
To get on the bus:
For route and scheduling information: (803) 255-7100 or www.gocmrta.com
Fare: $1.50 per trip, 75 cents for senior citizens or the disabled. Bus drivers can’t make change.
Cayce routes: 5:55 a.m.-6:23 p.m. weekdays from the Transfer Center at Laurel and Sumter streets to Dunbar Road and Frink Street. Weekday service to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, 7:30 a.m.-4:42 p.m.
West Columbia routes: 5:40 a.m.-6:40 p.m. weekdays from the Transfer Center at Laurel and Sumter streets to the Lexington Medical Center
To change buses: Ask the bus driver for a transfer slip.
Rack and Roll: Each bus is equipped with racks to hold two standard bicycles.
SMARTRIDE commuter service 6 a.m.-6:27 p.m. weekdays from Newberry Shopping Plaza (S.C. 19 at U.S. 76) to Columbia with stops in Little Mountain and Chapin; $20 week; single-trip passes, $3 upon boarding
SMARTRIDE commuter service 6 a.m.-6:35 p.m. weekdays from the United Way, 116 E. Dekalb St., Camden, to Columbia with a stop in Lugoff (U.S. 601), $1.50 one way, $3 round trip. Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority, (888) 748-4987, ext. 123 or 126; www.swrta.com.
Airport
Columbia Metropolitan Airport
3000 Aviation Way, West Columbia; (803) 822-5000 or (888) 562-5002 or www.columbiaairport.com
Here are the carriers that serve the airport:
American Eagle: Direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth; www.aa.com, (800) 433-7300
Continental Airlines: Direct flights to Houston and Newark; www.continental.com, (800) 525-0280
Delta: Direct flights to Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando, New York/LaGuardia; www.delta.com, (800) 221-1212
Northwest Airlines: Direct flights to Detroit and Memphis; www.nwa.com, (800) 225-2525
United: Direct flights to Washington/Dulles and Chicago/O’Hare; www.united.com, (800) 241-6522
US Airways: Direct flights to Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington/Reagan; www.usairways.com, (800) 428-4322
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