Getting There

As one of the country's most accessible cities, Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports - Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Reagan National Airport (DCA), and Dulles International Airport (IAD) - also Amtrak, and a first-rate METRO system. Want to save energy, but Amtrak isn’t an option? Try Greyhound or Sojourners Ride Share program through GoLoco.

The Mobilization to End Poverty will take place in the new Washington Convention Center located between 7th and 9th Streets, N Street, and Mt. Vernon Place, NW, in downtown D.C. The Center has a Yellow and Green line Metro stop inside the building, making transportation around D.C. very easy.

Washington Convention Center

801 Mount Vernon Place, NW

Washington, D.C. 20001

800-368-9000

202-249-3000

Local Transportation

In order to remain consistent with our value of being good stewards of the environment and resources, Sojourners encourages you to use public transportation when traveling into, out of, and around D.C.

Each of the three major airports that serve Washington, D.C., (Baltimore-Washington International, Reagan National, and Dulles International) and the Amtrak rail stop at Union Station have connections to the city’s transit system. Also, numerous taxis and airport shuttles are also available to whisk you to your hotel and the convention site as well.

D.C. has a great public transportation system, especially the Metro system, so getting from the airport to downtown and then around D.C. is relatively easy. Check out the Web page of the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority ahead of time for fares, maps, list of stations, etc., to give you a head start (www.wmata.com). Washington, D.C., also has plenty of buses and taxis to help you get around the city.

Transportation Options

1. Ground Travel from the Airports to Downtown Washington, D.C.
1. Traveling from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA): Via Metrorail (subway):

• Take the Yellow Metrorail line from Reagan National Airport toward downtown D.C., in the direction of Fort Totten. The Convention Center is off the Mt. Vernon/7th Street Convention Center stop.

1. Traveling from Dulles International Airport (IAD):

• It’s expensive to take a cab to downtown Washington, D.C., so a better option might be the Washington Flyer Motor Coach, a bus that takes you from the airport to the West Falls Church Metrorail station (fare $9). From there, transfer to the Orange Metrorail line towards New Carrolton and exit at the L’Enfant Plaza stop.
• Also, you could take the Metrobus route 5A. Route 5A provides Express service (fare $3) from the airport to L’Enfant Plaza. At L’Enfant Plaza transfer to the Yellow Metrorail line in the direction of Fort Totten and exit at the Mt. Vernon/7th Street Convention Center stop.

1. Traveling from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI):

• There are two options for travel from BWI to Washington, D.C.:
• Take the Metrobus B30 from BWI to the Greenbelt Metrorail Center. At Greenbelt, transfer to the Green Metrorail line towards Branch Ave., and travel into downtown D.C. Exit at the Mt. Vernon/7th Street Convention Center stop. Total cost: $4.95
• The Amtrak train runs regularly from BWI to Washington’s Union Station. Visit www.Amtrak.com for a full schedule of times and fares. Total cost: varies, but is approximately $19.

1. Getting Around in the District of Columbia
1. WAMTA: Washington D.C.’s subway and bus system are the best way to travel around the city. You can purchase fare cards inside the Metro Station .

• The Metro Website includes a trip planner, a great feature to help you chart out your trip using bus, Metrorail (subway), or a combination of the two. It also calculates walking distance from the Metrorail or bus stop to your destination.
• Tips for using the metro
• When using the escalator, walk to the left or stand to the right; do not block the way for rushed commuters. Do not block the doors to subway cars, allow customers to exit before boarding. The door-closing chime is just that; stand back, the doors do not retract; another train will be by shortly. Verizon phones work inside the subway, other carriers may work in some stations and on above ground tracks.

1. D.C. Circulator: A three-route bus service that operates in the “heart” of the District of Columbia at 5 to 10 minute intervals. The $1 fare is the least expensive in town. Metrorail transfers with a $ .35 payment are also accepted. See the “ticket information” link to view information about payment options and always remember to ask the Circulator bus driver for a transfer!

• Routes include:
• The North/South Route: Travels between the Washington Convention Center and the Southwest Waterfront and operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day.
• The East/West Route: Travels between Union Station and Georgetown and operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. The Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Route: Travels on a continuous loop around the National Mall

1. Taxi Cabs: If there is no bus or Metrorail, Washington, D.C.’s taxicabs are a great option. There is an extra charge for radio-dispatched cabs. Most local riders “hail” a taxi from busy intersections and other well-traveled locations. In the past, cabs have operated on a confusing zone system for charging passengers, but they recently switched to a traditional metered fare system.