NIDDK New Investigators Workshop

Travel Arrangements

Travel arrangements are your own responsibility, but you should know that three airports serve the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Please make your own hotel reservations.

Should you decide to extend your stay to take advantage of lower fares, DC area attractions are only a short distance away from any of the suggested hotels.

Hotel and travel information is listed below.

Expenses
A one-time supplement of $1,000 ($500 if you reside in the Baltimore-Washington area) will be added to your NIDDK grant to defray travel, hotel, and meal expenses. Light refreshments will be provided both days. Due to government regulations, we must charge for meals at government meetings. Therefore, we have to ask you to pay for your lunches ahead of time for the working lunch sessions. This is one of the meal expenses for which you are being reimbursed. We will still provide continental breakfast and coffee breaks at no additional charge to you.

Hotel Reservations

A block of sleeping rooms for participants has been reserved for the NIDDK New Investigators’ Workshop at both the Bethesda Marriott Hotel and the Residence Inn Bethesda-Downtown. The rate is the prevailing government rate of $209 per night for single or double occupancy, plus tax (currently 13%). Reservations will be for arrival on Sunday, April 19, 2009, with a departure of Tuesday, April 21, 2009. Participants may make reservations by calling the hotel directly (numbers below) or toll free at (800) 228-9290. Make sure you identify yourself as a member of the NIDDK New Investigators’ group to receive the group rate. THE ROOM BLOCK WILL BE IN EFFECT AT THE GOVERNMENT RATE UNTIL SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2009, ONLY OR UNTIL FULL, WHICH EVER COMES FIRST. ANY ROOM RESERVATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THAT DATE WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A SPACE AND RATE AVAILABILITY BASIS. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m., and check-out time is 12:00 p.m. Any reservation cancellations must be made prior to 6:00 p.m. the day of the scheduled arrival date, or charges will apply. If you plan to cancel your attendance, please alert the hotel as well as John Hare of The Scientific Consulting Group, Inc. at jhare@scgcorp.com. The hotel information is as follows:

Bethesda Marriott Hotel
5151 Pooks Hill Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-897-9400 or 1-800-228-9290
Fax: 301-897-0192
Website: http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasbt-bethesda-marriott/
Additional hotel information can be obtained from this website.
Parking is $9 per day at the hotel.

Residence Inn Bethesda-Downtown
7335 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-718-0200 or 1-800-228-9290
Fax: 301-718-0679
Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasbr-residence-inn-bethesda-downtown/
Additional hotel information can be obtained from this website.
Valet Parking is $18 per day at the hotel.

NIH Visitor Information
Lister Hill Auditorium is located on the NIH Campus in Building 38A. For a map, general information, and directions to and around the NIH Campus, visit http://parking.nih.gov/visitor_access_map.htm.

NIH Security
The NIH, like all federal government facilities, has instituted security measures to ensure the safety of NIH employees, patients, and visitors. The national threat advisory level, determined by the Department of Homeland Security (http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/), currently is yellow (elevated).

Perimeter Security
All visitor vehicles, including taxicabs, hotel and airport shuttles, delivery trucks, and vans will be inspected before being allowed on campus. Visitors will be asked to show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit. Be sure to allow at least 15-20 minutes for this vehicle inspection procedure.

Building Security
Due to the checking of IDs at the perimeter, employees and visitors will not be required to show their IDs again to gain access to the majority of buildings on the NIH Campus during the normal business day.

Employees and visitors should continue to wear their identification prominently at all times while on campus. Guards will remain at certain buildings to address specific program requirements, such as sensitive research and safety concerns. At building entrances where guards are posted:

Employees must show a DHHS-issued photo ID (for example, your NIH-issued ID badge).
Visitors may be required to log-in, wear a visitor’s pass, and be escorted by an employee through the building.
Visitors may be required to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks, or purses inspected or x-rayed as they enter buildings.
Security staff will confiscate any suspicious or potentially dangerous materials. U.S. code prohibits bringing any dangerous weapons onto federal property, including anything with a blade longer than 2½ inches. Meeting participants may want to leave extra bags or personal materials at their hotel to minimize the time needed for inspection.

Weekday Pedestrian Campus Access
All visitors must enter through the NIH Gateway Center at Metro or the West Gateway Center (see the Visitor Map at http://parking.nih.gov/visitor_access_map.htm).

Gateway Center
Wisconsin Avenue at Gateway Drive (near the Metro)
Open 24 hours, 7 days per week

West Gateway Center
Near Old Georgetown Road and South Drive
Open 6 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday-Friday

Metro to the Hotel
The Metro system is clean, reliable, and safe. It operates from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight Monday through Thursday; 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Fridays; 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays; and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight on Sundays. Each passenger must purchase a farecard to travel in the system. Instructions for purchasing farecards are posted on the vending machines in each station. Each Metro car features a complete color-coded map of the system. Station attendants on duty at each station can provide additional information on request. From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a cost-effective way to travel to the meeting is by using the Metrorail system. A map of the system is available at: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm. All of the hotels listed are within walking distance of a metro stop.

From the Ronald Regan Washington National Airport station, take the Yellow Line toward Mt. Vernon Square or Fort Totten. At the Gallery/Chinatown stop, transfer to the Red Line toward Shady Grove or Grosvenor-Strathmore. The Residence Inn Bethesda is located across from the Bethesda Metro Station. One station further is the NIH campus located at the Medical Center Station. A hotel shuttle to the Bethesda Marriott is available from this station by prearrangement with the hotel directly by calling 301-897-9400.

SuperShuttle

SuperShuttle offers service to most hotels from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The shuttle leaves on an as-needed basis between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. During other times, arrangements for a shuttle can be made by calling 1-800-258-3826 from the airport, or by visiting their website at http://supershuttle.com.

Driving Directions to NIH
From Points North and East:
Take I-95 South to I-495 West (Capital Beltway) toward Silver Spring. Follow I-495 West for 9 miles to Exit 34 (Bethesda/Wisconsin Avenue). Follow signs for Route 355 South and stay in the right lane. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

From Points North and West:
Take I-270 South to I-495 East (Capital Beltway) toward Washington, DC. Stay in one of the three left lanes. Follow signs for Route 355 South, a left-lane exit, onto Wisconsin Avenue. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

From Points South:
Take I-95 North to I-495 (Capital Beltway) toward Tyson’s Corner/Rockville. Follow I-495 for 20 miles. Take Exit 34 (Bethesda/Wisconsin Avenue). Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

From Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI):
Take the Route 195 connector to I-95 South. Take I-95 South to I-495 West (Capital Beltway) toward Silver Spring. Follow I-495 West for 9 miles to Exit 34 (Bethesda/Wisconsin Avenue). Follow signs for Route 355 South and stay in the right lane. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

From Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD):
Take the Dulles Access Road for approximately 13 miles to Exit 18. Move to the right on the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) and take Exit 18. Stay left on the ramp for Bethesda/Baltimore, and proceed toward Bethesda (I-495). Continue approximately 9 miles on I-495. Stay on I-495 at the I-495/I-270 split (bear right). Take Exit 34 (Wisconsin Avenue South/Route 355) toward Bethesda. Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA):
Take the George Washington Parkway North for 12 miles to I-495 toward Maryland (Capital Beltway). Take Exit 34 (Bethesda/Wisconsin Avenue). Travel approximately 1 mile and turn right past the light at South Drive onto NIH Gateway Drive. Pass through NIH security and follow the signs to Building 38A.

Parking
Parking on the NIH campus is limited and is $12 per day in the visitor lots. The closest visitor lot is the Gateway Parking Garage (MLP-11) located at the Gateway Drive entrance. From here, it is a 5 minute walk to the building. The NIH Campus shuttle is also an option which runs every 15 minutes.

Transportation
For transportation from the Metropolitan Washington Airports:

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (703-685-1400)
Washington Dulles International Airport (703-685-1400)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) (800-435-9294)

Taxi Service
From Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI):
Hotel distance and direction: 35 miles SW
Estimated Taxi Fare: $60

From Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD):
Hotel distance and direction: 25 miles NE
Estimated Taxi Fare: $50

From Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA):
Hotel distance and direction: 21 miles NE
Estimated Taxi Fare: $45

Fares may differ during peak travel hours.