May 2006

Commencement Tips

Transportation to the National Mall
As parking is limited around the National Mall, guests may take the Metrorail system to: 1) Archives-Navy Memorial Station on the Yellow and Green Line; 2) Smithsonian Station on the Blue and Orange Line or 3) L’Enfant Plaza Station on the Blue and Orange or the Yellow and Green Lines and then walk towards the National Mall to the seating. A detailed map can be found in the Commencement Packet or at www.commencement.gwu.edu. Metrorail opens at 7:00 am on Sundays. Guests also may ride the Metro to the GW/Foggy Bottom Station and then take the shuttle buses to the ceremony from campus. The GW/Foggy Bottom Metro station is located on 23rd and I Streets, NW, one block from where the shuttle buses will be located.

Shuttle Bus Service
Guests may utilize the campus shuttle bus service located on I Street between 21st and 22nd Streets, NW. Shuttle buses are for all graduates and guests and will operate continuously from 7:30 am until 1:00 pm. The buses will depart campus from I Street between 21st and 22nd Streets, NW. The buses will depart from designated locations near the National Mall. Shuttle bus service can become crowded. Plan to board buses no later than 8:15 am if you plan to see or be in the academic procession.

Wheelchair Accessible Shuttle Bus
Wheelchair accessible buses will provide regular transportation to and from the National Mall from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm on the day of Commencement. The University parking garages are wheelchair accessible. Shuttle buses with wheelchair lifts will pick up passengers on the north side of I Street between 21st and 22nd Streets. Both the guests in the wheelchairs and the entire party of guests accompanying them may use the wheelchair accessible buses.

Taxis
A trip to the National Mall from a downtown hotel via taxi will cost about $8.00-15.00 depending on the distance traveled and number of people. Taxis usually are available on streets surrounding the National Mall after the Commencement ceremony.

Commencement Weekend Parking
Friday, May 19
Participants in the Doctoral Hooding, Elliott School of International Affairs, and School of Business ceremonies will receive one parking permit for Friday, May 19. These permits will be honored on a space-available basis.
Saturday, May 20
Graduates of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, the School of Public Health and Health Services, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Health Sciences graduates), the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences will receive a parking permit valid for parking on Saturday, May 20, on a space available basis.
Sunday, May 21
Each graduate will receive one parking permit for Sunday, May 21. This permit will be valid for May 21 only, for one space on campus in the University Parking Garage or the Marvin Center Garage. Campus parking permits are valid on a space available basis. If guests are staying in hotels within the vicinity of the National Mall, it is recommended that they walk to the National Mall or take a cab rather than drive. This permit also will be valid for the participants in the Law School Celebration and the School of Medicine and Health Sciences Celebration (MD graduates.)

Parking on Campus
Due to the large number of guests on campus throughout the weekend, parking on campus may be extremely limited. Please arrive early to allow time for parking. Guests with parking permits will be allowed to park in designated University Garages. If designated University parking facilities are full when you arrive, you will be directed by an attendant to another parking lot.

Parking is available at commercial garages for a fee. The nearest garages to Foggy Bottom Campus are:
‰ Colonial Parking: Entrance
on I Street between 21st and
22nd Streets
‰ Colonial Parking: Entrance on 20th Street between H Street
and Pennsylvania Avenue
‰ Colonial Parking: Entrance on 20th Street between E Street
and F Street

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu