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MAPS
Good overall map of DC/Northern Virginia area:
http://www.nps.gov/vive/ppmaps/namamap1.pdf (408k PDF file)
Capitol Hill area map showing key locations by address and map coordinate:
http://www.capitolhillmap.com/CHMap2002.htm
Amtrak, MTA/MARC, Metrorail and Virginia Rail Express serve to Union Station. Union Station is located at 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The red line stop "Union Station" is located inside the building.
The Union Station website offers directions.
The Washington, DC bus station is located at 1005 1ST ST NE (1st and L Streets NE). It is walking distance from Union Station (the train station), also the located of a red line metro.
To hail a cab, stand near the curb and hold up your arm. Remember when getting out of a taxi; always get out on the curb site. Calling the company to dispatch a cab to you will cost an extra $1.50 or so.
Taxi service is zoned in D.C. (you pay one fare in a certain area). The cost of a taxi is the same traveling inside one zone, but if you leave one zone and go to another zone, the price increases. The price also increases if you leave D.C. and go into Virginia. Zone maps and fares are displayed in the passenger area of every taxi. When in doubt, ask about the fare when you get in the cab.
Although rates are subject to change, you can expect the fares WITHIN the District of Columbia to be:
METROBUS
You can call Metro Information at 202-637-7000 between 6:00 am and 11:30 p.m., seven days a week. Metro information can tell you how to use the bus and subway to travel between any two points in the metropolitan area.
A red and white flag on top of a white pole designate bus stops. Bus fare is $1.10 during rush and non-rush hours. Transfers are free for 2 hours.
INTERNET METRO TRIP PLANNER:
http://rideguide.wmata.com/
METRORAIL (SUBWAY)
Constitution Gardens, next to the Vietnam Memorial, is within walking distance of Foggy Bottom GWU Metrorail Station at 23rd St NW & Eye St NW. Exiting the station, walk south on 23rd St to Constitution Ave (lettered streets count down, C Street is just before Constitution), turn left and go about two blocks.
Marine Barracks is within easy walking distance (four blocks south) of the Metro's Eastern Market Station (blue/orange lines) at Pennsylvania and 8th Street, SE. Come up the escalator, and walk forward across the plaza to 8th St., SE. Take a right on 8th Street, and go 4 blocks south.
The website for Metro is: http://www.wmata.com or http://www.metroopensdoors.com.
Known as the "Metro," Greater DC's subway system is clean, safe, efficient and fairly inexpensive. The Metro can take you to most areas of the city at a cost of $1.10 to $1.60. The subway also extends to many suburban areas.. Subway stops are marked on the street by tall black poles with the letter "M" imprinted on the sides. There are also colored stripes on the pole, which indicate what lines are located at the stop (red, orange, blue, green or yellow). Transfer points on the system are indicated by "bulls-eye" symbols (larger circles) on the maps. Metrorail begins service at 5:30 a.m. and ends service at 12 midnight (2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Trains run every few minutes during rush hour, and are somewhat slower during non-rush hour (about 12-15 minutes). Transfers are free within Metrorail, 25 cents for a transfer to Metrobus.
Metro stations are marked by large brown columns. The colored strips indicate the lines served by the station.
You need a farecard, or one day pass to ride Metrorail. Farecards and one day passes can be purchased at the stations.
EACH PERSON MUST HAVE THEIR OWN FARECARD.
Feed the card to the turnstile, depending on the model of turnstile, it either comes back out the same slot or a slot on the top. When removed, it opens the “gate”. You feed the card to the turnstiles entering and exiting.
Your fare is calculated and deducted upon exiting the Metro. Unused money on your fare card can be “cashed in” at the same machine used to purchase fare cards.
Follow the signs to your platform. Flashing lights at the platform's edge let you know a train is coming.
The train's destination is displayed over the train's front and side windows. The line color is displayed on the front and back of the trains.
CARDINAL RULES: Be sure to check the signs (usually more than one) in and around where you park. If marked M-F (Monday–Friday) with no restrictions on Sat or no mention of Sat, then it is all day parking with no feeding the meter.
If the sign says “NO PARKING ENTRANCE” without time or date restrictions, do not park there at any time. Some of these spots (office buildings) are available weekends, while some spots (hotels, apartments) are not.
Bring quarters in case you need to use a metered spot. Plan on about $1 an hour.
When planning where to park, consider how you will get between Constitution Gardens/Vietnam Memorial, the Marine Barracks and back to your car.
Be sure to WRITE DOWN where you have parked (i.e., E Street between 14th and 13th) because most of DC looks alike.
Not a big risk, but minimize your exposure, LEAVE NOTHING VISIBLE IN THE CAR TO AVOID GETTING BROKEN INTO. Nothing means nothing, not even an empty shopping bag.
AVOID OPENING THE TRUNK WHEN PARKING. Putting all of your gear into the trunk when you park so it’s not visible in the car might be observed. They’ll just break in and use the driver’s inside release. If possible, stop just outside DC and put anything in the trunk you need to take to the protest into the car. That way when you park, you don’t have to go into the trunk.
LOCK YOUR CAR.
Carpools are encouraged to drive directly to the rally site to drop off their passengers and then proceed to parking. Drop off, park, note location and lock your car. Decide where and when you’ll meet in case you get separated. Trade cell phone numbers.
In DC, the law is NO JAY WALKING and NO CROSSING AGAINST THE RED AT LIGHTS. It is enforced.
For your own safety, the safety of others, and to cooperate with the police, please observe those laws. A large column of people can aggravate DC’s already bad situation at traffic intersections. Out of town drivers, through a combination of confusion over DC traffic and a tendency to sightsee, have a reputation for plowing into people, so stay on the curb while waiting. Also look around for traffic even when crossing on the green.