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British Columbia offers several transportation options for travellers. Much of the province is accessible in all weather by thousands of kilometres of highways. Major routes passing through the Rocky Mountains to points eastward include the Trans-Canada Highway, the Yellowhead Highway, Highway 2 through Dawson Creek, and the Crowsnest Pass Highway. Among the many border crossings into the United States, Highway 97 is the longest, stretching from the Washington border to Watson Lake in the Yukon.
Public transit in the Pacific Province consists of diesel and electric buses and light rapid transit. BC Transit operates fleets throughout British Columbia, except for in the Greater Vancouver Region, which is serviced by TransLink. BC Transit operates Canada’s first hybrid electric bus. TransLink in turn operates light rail transit in the form of SkyTrain, which connects 33 communities across 49.5 kilometres (30.8 miles) of lines. Additional TransLink services include the SeaBus passenger ferry, West Coast Express commuter rail, the Albion Ferry, and numerous other buses and shuttles.
Railways in the Pacific Province include VIA Rail Canada, British Columbia Railway Company (BC Rail), and Canadian National Railway. Amtrak operates the Amtrak Cascades train, with stops between Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver.
With its many islands and passages, British Columbia provides several water-based transportation options. BC Ferries operates 36 vessels at 47 ports of call along the coast, and is the primary provider of coastal ferry service in the province. Other ferry services include Washington State Ferries, connecting Sidney to Anacortes, Washington, and Black Ball Ferries connecting Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington.
British Columbia also boasts the largest port in Canada, the Port of Vancouver, which not only manages most international shipping, but also provides the home port for the Vancouver-Alaska cruise routes. Other important ports include Victoria, Prince Rupert, and Nanaimo.
British Columbia offers many options for the air traveler, with over 200 airports including land and water-based facilities throughout the province. The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) served over 16.4 million passengers in 2005, and handled 223,700 tonnes of cargo. The Victoria International Airport (YYJ), on the Saanich Peninsula, served over 1.3 million passengers in 2006. The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) and the Prince George International Airport (YXS) provide additional services.
With its diversity of air, rail, road, and water transportation, British Columbia is well positioned for all manner of travel and business endeavors.
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