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New Student Orientation
Transportation |
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Washington DC is a diamond-shaped city divided into four quadrants: NE, NW, SE, and SW. North and South Capitol Streets divide East and West, and the National Mall divides North and South. Georgetown is nestled in the Northwest corner, just across the Key Bridge from Virginia. The streets and avenues are easy to decipher with the letter streets arranged in alphabetical order, and the numbered streets in numerical order. Avenues bearing states' names run diagonally across the base grid and intersect each other at the city's many famous squares and traffic circles. The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building are all located along a straight line that forms the National Mall. The Smithsonian Institute Museums border the National Mall to the North and South. These are just the basics. In order to become an expert in DC, you have to explore. This section includes information regarding The Capitol Beltway, I-495, is a highway which circles Washington DC and connects to I-95, I-270, I-66, and I-395. To reach the Beltway, you can cross the Key Bridge and take the George Washington Parkway West or take New York, Connecticut, or Wisconsin Avenues North. Washington DC has one of cleanest and safest public transportation systems in the country. Unfortunately, there is no Metro stop in the immediate Georgetown community. However, there are three stops within walking distance of campus. the Rosslyn Metro stop is across the Key Bridge and allows access to the Orange and Blue lines. The Foggy Bottom GWU Metro stop is easily reached by walking down M St./Pennsylvania Avenue and turning right at the first traffic circle. This stop is also on the Blue and Orange lines. Finally, the Dupont Circle Metro stop is located in the heart of Dupont Circle and is on the Red line. There are currently five lines on the MetroRail system: Blue, Red, Green, Orange, and Yellow. There are numerous stations at which you can switch to different lines. For more information about the system layout and a convenient trip planner, you can check out Metro's easy-to-use website here. Standard Metro fare for most distances is $1.35 with a fare increase during rush hour. You can purchase a fare card at the entrance of any Metro station. Machines accept everything from nickels to $20 bills. The MetroRail runs from 5:30am to midnight during the week and from 7:00am to 3:00am during the weekend. Transfers are only available from the Rail to the bus, not from the bus to the Rail, and must be picked up at your station of origin. For more information on fares and schedules see the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority's website here. There are three airports that serve the DC area: Reagan National, Dulles International, and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI). National Airport can be reached easily by Metro or cab. the Blue line goes directly to the airport and can be reached via either the Rosslyn or Foggy Bottom Metro stations. A cab to Naional will cost approximately $15. Dulles will cost you close to $45 and to BWI will cost over $50. To get to Dulles you can also take the Orange line to West Falls Church and catch the Dulles shuttle there for $8. The MARC Train is the easiest way to get to BWI for approximately $16 one way. Another great and less expensive way to get to all three airports is through Super Shuttle, a door-to-door shared can that makes a couple of stops but is not as expensive as a cab. To make a reservation, call 1-800-BLUE VAN Taxis are available all over the city and are easily hailed most of the time. Taxis can generally be found waiting in front of the Healy Gates or the Tombs, and are willing to take you wherever you want to go. DC cab companies do not use a meter system to determine rates, like cabs in many other areas. Instead, the city is divided into zones, and fares are determined by the number of zones you pass through during your trip. Be careful that your cab driver does not take a roundabout route to your destination in order to charge you a larger fare. There should be a list of prices per zone in every cab. If not, ask your driver to see one. You can also calculate a fare estimate before you depart, here. Cab companies include...
There are numerous bus services in DC that are great for traveling both long and short distances. Below is a list of the services most useful and convenient for Georgetown students. Greyhound: Greyhound buses can be caught at the Greyhound station located at 1005 1st St., NE (near Union Station), which is accessible by Metro. For fares and schedule information, call 1-800-325-7245 or visit www.greyhound.com. GUTS (Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle): The GUTS service runs from the Leavey Center to Arlington, Rosslyn, Wisconsin Ave., and the Dupont Circle Metro stop. It also runs to the GU Law Center. The GUTS service is free with a valid ID to all students and employees of Georgetown. Route maps, schedules, and all other information is available at the GUTSoffice in the Leavey Center parking garage, Podium A. for Information, call the Office of Transportation Management at 202-687-4372 or visit guts.georgetown.edu. Metro buses: Both the G2 and D6 Metro Buses stop at locations on campus. The G2 stops at the Healy Gates and the D6 stops on Reservoir Road by the hospital entrance. both run to Dupont Circle where you can catch the Metro. Bus fare is $1.25 each way. You must have exact change. Complete information can be found at www.wmata.com/metrobus/. Metro Connection: These blue and yellow buses are a great way to reach all of the closest Metro stations. They stop at multiple locations on M St. and Wisconsin Ave. Fare is only $1.00 each way. Buses run everyday and leave every ten minutes. For more information, visit www.georgetowndc.com/shuttle.php. All non-Metro trains depart from Union Station, where you can catch both Amtrak and MARC trains on a daily basis. For more information about Amtrak, visit www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL. For more MARC train information, visit www.maryland.com/services/marc or call 1-800-325-7245.
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