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Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008

Settling in: How to get around

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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

www.aaacarolinas.com

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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