NATIONAL FRAGILE X FOUNDATION ADVOCACY DAY: Travel & Logistics
You’re Registered for NFXF Advocacy Day-Congratulations, you’re about to make a big difference!
Transportation Information
Washington has great public transportation. It’s well-lit, clean, safe, easy to navigate and inexpensive to use. DC Metro Transit (Android) and iTrans DC Metro (iOS) are easy-to-use apps for mobile users.
Metro line trains are identified by color and the last stop in the direction they are headed.
The Doubletree Hotel’s nearest METRO stop is the Pentagon City station, which is on the Yellow and the Blue lines.
From Reagan National (DCA) Directions to the Hotel
When you enter the METRO station, buy a ticket from self-serve machines. Reagan National is on the METRO Yellow and Blue lines. Follow the signs in the Airport to the METRO Station. Take the Yellow line (to Georgia Ave-Petworth) or the Blue line (to Largo Town Center) to the hotel. With either line, exit at the Pentagon City station.
Walking Directions from Pentagon City Station
From the Pentagon City station it’s a short three block walk to the Hotel. o Exit the Metro onto S. Hayes Street. o Make a left onto S. Hayes Street-pass the front of the shopping mall and walk along S. Hayes Street toward Macy’s until you reach Army Navy drive. o Make a right onto Army Navy Drive and go three blocks. o The Doubletree is on the right.
BWI BWI isn’t on the Metro Line but there’s a train. At the airport follow the signs to the MARC Train (to ground transportation). This will take you to an airport shuttle bus that will take you to the MARC train station (5 min bus ride). Walk across the street to the station and purchase a $6 ticket for the MARC Train to DC (Penn Line South). You’ll need to show picture ID when buying a ticket. TV Monitors display when the next rain is leaving. Look for the MARC Train to DC (Penn Line South). From the station, cross the tracks over an enclosed pedestrian bridge to reach the correct platform. As each train arrives there is an announcement telling you which train it is. Listen for your train. If you're not sure ask the person next to you if the train is the MARC to DC. The ride to DC Union Station is about 30 minutes. As soon as you enter Union Station follow the signs to the METRO. Enter the Metro station and purchase your ticket from the self-serve machines. You can put any value on your ticket: we recommend $5. You can always add more. Take the Red line (to Shady Grove). Exit at Gallery Place-Chinatown station. Follow signs to the Yellow Line (to Huntington). Take the Yellow line (to Huntington). Exit at the Pentagon City station. The walking directions are the same as above. Taking a cab: A cab from BWI to the hotel will be about $60; the METRO will be about $3
Dulles We recommend that you take a cab from Dulles. Tuesday, March 3 Training Session 1:00 to 5:00 pm Registration Check-in will begin at 11:30 am outside of the meeting room – Salon A and B.
During the Tuesday training You will be seated by state(s) with other Advocates that you’ll be attending meetings with on Wednesday. No one will be attending meetings by themselves. Everyone will have at least one partner in every meeting. Every group will have at least one person that’s attended NFXF Advocacy Day previously.
You will receive your schedule for your day-of meetings on Wednesday. Your schedule will include:
Where you have to be and when (meeting times, building names and suite number), A map of Capitol Hill to help you get from building to building, The phone number of each office you will be visiting, The name of the person you’ll be meeting with (staff member or Member of Congress), The names of the members of your team you’ll be traveling with throughout the day , Contact information for the NFXF Washington Team for questions that arise during the day.
Tuesday Night Dinner Feel free to dine on your own with old or new friends at various area restaurants. Wednesday will be a full, tiring and invigorating day. We recommend that you not spend Tuesday night “on the town” but rather that you have an early dinner and spend some additional time reading the training materials and preparing for your meetings.
Wednesday, March 4
Charter Bus Transportation from the Hotel to Capitol Hill Behind North Tower beginning at 6:30 am. Last bus departs at 6:45 am.
Charter Bus transportation from the hotel to Capitol Hill is provided Wednesday morning to those who signed up for it at registration. Transportation back to the hotel or to the airport is on your own.
We have special permission to consume food and beverages on the buses. Please be sure to pick up after yourself before departing the bus.
Wednesday - NFXF Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill Wednesday will begin early. To assure that we are at the Capitol by 7:30 am you’ll need to be out of your hotel room, checked out of the hotel, have your luggage secured with a bellman and ready to board the bus no later than 6:45 am.
Group picture: We assemble on the steps of the Capitol for a group picture with Representative Gregg Harper at 7:30 am sharp. Special tour of the Capitol: Next, we proceed through security into the Capitol Building for a special tour led by Rep. Gregg Harper. o When going through security, please don’t bring water or food or anything that you’d expect to give you trouble at an airport. o You can bring a camera but you will not be able to bring your camera, coat, bag or purse onto the Floor of the House Chamber. These items will be left in the hallway outside the chamber, but there are security guards and the area is not open to the public at this time.
Being on time for your meeting is very important! Each advocate will be responsible to know when their first meeting is and to leave the Capitol in enough time to get to your first meeting. Estimate about 20-25 minutes to walk from the Capitol, and clear security into the building where you have your first meeting. Every building you’ll be going into has security. This will be a busy time of year so there will likely be lines to clear security. There will be groups walking together from the Capitol to the office buildings of the Members of Congress. There are different office buildings for members of the House and for members of the Senate. o Senate office buildings: Russell, Dirkson and Hart o House office buildings: Cannon, Longworth and Rayburn. o Each group of three buildings is located on opposite sides of the Capitol Building. o Here is a print-friendly map of the entire Capitol complex to get an idea where the buildings are situated in relation to each other. Print out a copy and bring it with you. Walking or taking a cab: Distances from House building to House building and Senate building to Senate building are easily walkable. You can also walk from the House side to the Senate side, but if your feet hurt, the weather is bad, or time is tight you may need to take a cab. o Cabs are available outside of all buildings and the cost from the House to the Senate side or vice-versa are less than $10 with a tip. o Advocates are almost always traveling in groups and most usually take turns paying for cabs. Your meetings may be scheduled throughout the afternoon until as late as 5:30 pm. Most of you will have to then head right back to the airport. o When you get your schedules on Tuesday you’ll know when your last meeting is scheduled and how much time you’ll have to get to the airport. o Most advocates leave their luggage at the hotel with the bellman and have to stop at the hotel on the way to the airport to pick it up. o We do not recommend that you bring your suitcase with you throughout the day. o Once you know how much time you have you can decide whether to take a cab to the airport or some other mode of transportation (METRO to DCA or MARC Train from Union Station to BWI)
Any Questions? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask them throughout the day on Tuesday.
Have a burning question that just can’t wait? Contact Jeffrey Cohen at 313-806-1190 or [email protected]
We’re very pleased you’re joining us in DC and we’re sure you’ll find the experience rewarding. Thank you for being a NFXF Advocate!
The NFXF Washington Team.