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Attendees to the 18th World Congress and Annual Meeting will find getting to Orlando and throughout the Central Florida area is convenient for travelers from around the world with transportation options including air, bus and train service, as well as an efficient highway network.
More than 35 airlines and 12 charters provide nonstop service from 76 U.S. destinations and 22 international cities, as well as direct service to more than 22 cities worldwide. Orlando International Airport is easily accessible and within 15 miles of major attractions, meeting facilities and downtown Orlando.
For two consecutive years, Orlando International Airport was named by the International Air Transport Association survey as the number one airport in North America and number one in the world for overall passenger satisfaction for airports serving more than 35.6 million passengers annually.
Avego, the official transportation partner of the 18th World Congress on ITS in Orlando, is offering a free airport shuttle service to all conference attendees. The service will operate between the Orlando International Airport and the Orange County Convention Center, and will make additional stops at the Hilton Orlando, The Peabody and Rosen Centre hotels.
Orlando Sanford International Airport is the area's second most popular entry point and accommodates most of the holiday charter services arriving in Central Florida. The airport's convenient location to Interstate 4 (I-4) makes it a natural transit point to the area's technology corridor and the holiday havens of fabulous weather, attractions, great sporting events and golden beaches.
Orlando is the largest rental car market in the world, with most of the major car rental companies located at the airport, eliminating the need for a shuttle to pick up your rental car. The rental car companies are located in Terminal A and B on the Ground Transportation Level (Level 1) at Orlando International Airport. Those who rent a car while in Orlando will find excellent signage that makes it easy to navigate throughout the area as well as friendly rental agents who will provide detailed maps that will guide you to your destination.
Major highway networks provide easy access for visitors to reach their destination and for traveling in and around the Greater Orlando area. Major highways include Interstate 4, the Florida Turnpike, Highway 528 (Bee Line Expressway), Highway 408 (East-West Expressway) and Highway 417 (Central Florida Greeneway).
The Florida Department of Transportation's (FDOT) 511 Traveler Information System is a free phone and Internet resource that provides English and Spanish real-time traffic information on all Florida interstate highways, Florida's Turnpike and major metropolitan roadways in the state. Callers can also access public transit, airport and seaport information. In the event of an emergency, 511 provides information on road closures and evacuation information. FDOT traffic information is available on the Web at FL511.com or on a Web-enabled mobile device at mobile.FL511.com.
Amtrak serves Orlando with two daily trains originating from New York and Miami with stops in downtown Orlando, Winter Park, Sanford and Kissimmee, as well as with a triweekly train originating from Los Angeles. Amtrak also offers its popular Auto Train, which transports passengers and their vehicles and features the comfort of bi-level Superliner sleepers, a diner and a lounge. The Auto Train runs daily between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, leaving each town at 4 p.m. and arriving at the destination at 8:30 a.m. the next morning.
Besides taxi and limousine service to anywhere in the Greater Orlando area, the city's Lynx bus system provides economical public transportation around Orlando. Bus stops are marked with a paw print of a Lynx cat. The downtown Orlando Lymmo bus system provides free transit reaching from the the Amway Arena and the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre to City Hall. The eight Lymmo stops are indicated by a small sign. Returning to the horse-and-buggy days, carriage rides are also available through local vendors in downtown Orlando.
If you're traveling with children, please remember that all children under 40 pounds (18 kilograms) must ride in an FAA-approved child restraint system. Call 1-877-KID-SEAT for more information on obtaining a car seat in Orlando.
I-Ride Trolleys are a fun way to get around International Drive. Symbolizing its role as a true destination, the International Drive Resort Area offers its guests a certain amenity with all the bells and whistles: the exclusive, convenient and economical I-RIDE Trolley Service. Single fare is just $1.25. Kids under age 12 ride free! Just hop on board an I-RIDE Trolley. Hours 8 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. daily.
Shuttle services to the Orange County Convention Center from the Hilton Orlando, Peabody and Rosen Centre Hotel will be provided Sunday through Thursday.
At the approximate geographic center of the state, the three-county Orlando area consists of 2,856 square miles. Orlando is situated approximately 150 miles from the Florida /Georgia border to the north, 50 miles from the Atlantic Coast to the east, 75 miles from the Gulf Coast to the west, and 370 miles from the Florida Keys at the southern tip of the state.
One of the area's biggest attractions is its year-round mild weather. Mid-Florida's subtropical climate has long been a strong drawing card for tourists and residents alike. At the heart of the "Sunshine State," the area's average annual temperature is a comfortable 72.4 degrees. Average annual rainfall amounts to over 50 inches per year, keeping Central Florida lush and green throughout the year.
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