Edmonton, AB Driving & Commute Times

Edmonton is Alberta's second-largest city, the province's capital, and North America's northernmost metropolitan area. As the city grows, so does the infrastructure that supports the local drivers. The city's one million residents are served by a network of primary roads and local access highways. As in any other metro area, it can take some time to get used to driving in the Edmonton community. But, once new residents become familiar with the best local routes, they can travel the city with ease. Keep reading to learn everything there is to know about driving in Edmonton.

Get to Know Your Major Roads

Anyone moving to Edmonton will quickly become familiar with Highway 216, a ring road surrounding the city. The "216" designation comes from the two major highways that intersect to create the rings. Highway 2 runs north and south, and Highway 16, which runs from east to west.

Within the city of Edmonton, most roads are laid out in a typical grid pattern. For added convenience, streets run north and south, whereas avenues run east to west.

The city is divided into 375 neighbourhoods that are located within seven geographic sectors. Outside of those, there are an additional six surrounding suburban areas.

The Oliver neighbourhood and the Garneau area are the most densely populated areas of the city. Major roads in Oliver include Jasper Avenue and 104th Avenue. Major roads serving the Garneau area include 109th Street.

Edmonton is considered the northern end of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor. The corridor includes Highways 15, 28A, 28, and 63. Highway 63 runs from Edmonton and Fort McMurray and is considered one of Alberta's most important interprovincial highways due to its access to the area's oil sand operations.

What to Expect During Rush Hour

Compared to other major cities, Edmonton is ranked 344th for the severity of rush hour traffic. Morning rush hour in Edmonton tends to get heaviest between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. In the evenings, expect the heaviest traffic between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. However, traffic is generally lighter than in many other major cities in Canada. On average, even during the heaviest traffic parts of the day, road congestion is only about 25% higher than normal traffic levels.

Many traffic issues can be navigated around when drivers know what to expect. When travelling during rush hour in Edmonton, expect to spend an extra six minutes on the road per 30-minute trip in the mornings. In the evenings, tack seven minutes on for each 30-minute trip.

According to the TomTom Edmonton Traffic Index, traffic in Edmonton tends to be most congested in January, when winter weather makes roads harder to travel. April is, on average, the month with the least traffic. On a week-by-week basis, Tuesday afternoons between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. have the heaviest traffic. To avoid congestion, leave before four.

Parking in Edmonton

Edmonton has a variety of parking options throughout the city. Paid parking in Edmonton is managed through the MyEPark app or EPark machines located around parking lots and paid street parking.

Parking in EPark-managed spots is free for the first half-hour. Drivers must start their parking session through the app or an EPark machine to get the first 30 minutes free.

Parking costs depend on the location and the day of the week. On Mondays through Fridays, street parking ranges in price from $1/hr to $3.50/hr. Sundays and statutory holidays are free. In the library, City Hall, and Canada Place Parkades, parking ranges from $2/hr on weekends to $5/hr on weekdays. Check the hours of a parkade before planning a night out. While the Library Parkade is accessible 24 hours a day, others do not provide admittance after 1:00 a.m.

Monthly passes for parkades can be applied for on the city's website. Prices start at $315 per month, but they are subject to change.

Each parkade has several accessible spots. When special events occur in downtown Edmonton, people with disabilities have access to a drop-off point on 104th Avenue, just west of 102nd Street.

Other Helpful Things to Know

Just like any other city, Edmonton has its quirks. Knowing what to expect makes a more pleasant driving experience.

Spotting signage can make it easier to navigate. When travelling on Highway 16, drivers will see Trans-Canada Highway signage instead of the standard provincial seals used on other Alberta highways.

Drivers should watch their speed when travelling in Edmonton. The area is notorious for photo radar traffic enforcement. In the unfortunate event of a ticket, the fine can be paid online on the city's website.

Watch out for potholes and construction throughout the year. While construction projects are usually only performed in the warmer months, the marks left on the road can linger year-round. Be especially vigilant for potholes during wet weather. These can fill with water. When potholes are unavoidable, drive over them slowly. Fast speeds increase the chance of damage to your vehicle.

Drivers should install winter tires on their cars before the first snowfall. Keeping a winter survival kit in the car includes blankets, a windshield scraper and brush, and sand or kitty litter for gaining traction if the car is stuck, is also recommended.

Remember that roads are slickest when the snow first starts falling. Drive carefully at speeds appropriate for the weather conditions.

Be extra careful to keep the car's fuel tank more than half full in the winter months. The extra volume of fuel reduces moisture problems and helps the car run more efficiently.

Edmonton Is on the Move

Whether people live in a downtown Edmonton townhouse or a country home with acreage, the driving tips above will help them get where they need to go. Even as the population grows, commute times from the suburbs to Edmonton stay relatively low. This means that people can spend less time in their cars and more time exploring outdoor recreation areas, downtown shops, and other fun things to do in Edmonton.