Destination

venue | hotel | transportation

VENUE

The “Standards Edge” conference series will continue this March 21 & 22, 2007 on the Georgetown University Campus outside of Washington, D.C. The two day conference will be held at the McShain lounge, in McCarthy Hall, located in the southern part of the Main Campus. For a map of the conference site, please click on the link below:

Georgetown University Map

Georgetown is famous for its historic charm and European feel. This picturesque neighborhood is located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., along the Potomac River waterfront. It was formerly a separate city, predating the founding of Washington, D.C. and the establishment of the District of Columbia.

ACCOMODATIONS

We have set aside a small block of rooms at the Melrose Hotel in Washington, D.C. It is the newest luxury hotel in this upscale Washington, D.C. neighborhood located one block away from Georgetown.

A special conference rate of $249.00 per night has been offered for conference attendees on a limited basis. If you wish to secure accommodations at the conference hotel please contact Andrea Young for availability. 

There are also a number of properties in and around the Georgetown/Washington, D.C. area. Should you wish to stay in Washington, D.C., you may want to consider hotels with addresses in the NW part of town. Desirable areas in Washington, D.C. are located in and around Capitol Hill, DuPont Circle, Georgetown, and Adams-Morgan.

Please note this is an extremely busy time in the entire metropolitan area. Hotel availability is already limited. It is therefore advisable to arrange your accommodations as soon as possible.

If you are having any trouble securing a room, please contact Andrea Young.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting around Washington is relatively easy due to the numerous forms of transportation available. However, there are two important things to keep in mind:

THERE IS NOT A METRO STOP IN GEORGETOWN and PARKING AT OR NEAR THE UNIVERSITY CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

You may find the following transportation information helpful:

Washington, D.C. Taxicab Service

Taxicabs in Washington, D.C. determine fares by a zone system. Prices range from $4 for a single zone to $12.50 for an eight-zone ride. You'll pay an extra $1.50 for each additional person. A rush-hour surcharge of $1 is in effect from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. For more than one grocery bag or suitcase per person, there is a $0.50/piece addition, and larger objects will cost $2.00. Cabs can double the fare during snow emergencies. In addition, there is a $1.00 charge for radio-dispatched cabs.

D.C. Taxi Zone Map and Fare Calculator

Information from the Washington, D.C. Taxicab Commission about taxi zones and fares.

Metro

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority runs both the Metrorail (Metro) subway system and the Metrobus. The Metro is considered one of the best public transportation systems in the country. It is clean, relatively inexpensive, and extensive. Unfortunately, there is not currently a Metro stop in Georgetown. The nearest Metro stop to Georgetown is Rosslyn (on the orange and blue lines), which is about two miles away. The easiest way to get from Rosslyn to the University is the GUTS bus. WMATA also recently began its own shuttle service from Rosslyn to Georgetown (but not directly to the University). It runs daily and costs a dollar each way ($0.25 with a Metro transfer).

The Dupont Circle Metro station (red line) is also fairly accessible to Georgetown. Although further away than Rosslyn, there is also GUTS service provided to the Dupont Circle Metro.

As mentioned, WMATA also runs bus service throughout the city. Bus service is extensive and runs just about everywhere in D.C. as well as in many areas of Virginia and Maryland that are serviced by Metro. For full schedules, see WMATA.

Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS)

The GUTS bus is free for students with a Georgetown ID. Visitors or those doing business on campus can also use GUTS for a nominal fare. The GUTS bus runs Monday-Friday, 6am-11pm with limited service on weekends. GUTS provides service to the Arlington Loop, Dupont Circle, Rosslyn, the Georgetown University Law Center on campus, and part of Wisconsin Ave. For a list of schedules or more information, please visit the Office of Transportation Management website.

Parking

Parking at or near the University is difficult and generally expensive, but not impossible. University parking permits ARE NOT available to students and other parking on campus is approximately $12.00 per day. Although limited street parking is available, it is VERY difficult to come by. Metered parking is also available for 2-4 hour time periods.

Those who live in D.C. can apply for a city parking permit. Washington, D.C. is divided into parking zones, and you can obtain a permit for the zone in which you live. The permit allows you unlimited parking in this zone. Georgetown is in zone 2, so if you have a zone 2 permit, you will be able to park near campus. You can obtain a permit by taking proof of rental agreement, student status, and auto registration to the D.C. DMV.

Airports

There are three major airports located relatively close to Washington, D.C..

• Ronald Regan/Washington National Airport
  Located in Arlington, VA, National Airport is directly across the river from D.C.. National is very convenient to fly into/out of as there is a Metro stop located right at the airport. Most major airlines are serviced here.
• Dulles International Airport
  Dulles is located in Sterling, VA, about a 25 minute drive from Washington, D.C.. There are various means of getting to Dulles without a car, such as the Washington Flyer, Super Shuttle, and cabs. These services cost about $20 one-way. Most major airlines are serviced here.
• Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
  BWI is located in Baltimore, MD, approximately an hour from Washington, D.C.. The BWI Flyer offers door-to-door service for a fee. In addition, the Maryland Rail Commuter Service (MARC) train runs service from Washington's Union Station (red line Metro) to BWI for $5.75 each way.