The ALSC Local Arrangements Committee is ready and waiting to welcome you to our nation’s capital for this year’s ALA Annual Conference, June 24-29. We’ll be periodically sharing tidbits of information about D.C. and the conference here on the ALSC Blog during the next 2 1/2 months as we blogdown to the Annual Conference.
Getting Around D.C. – The Metro
The key to getting around Washington is familiarizing yourself with our Metro Transit System. Known to locals as simply the Metro (several of its lines run at or above ground level, so it’s not strictly a subway), the transit system’s rail portion has been in operation since April 1976. If you find yourself traveling on the Red Line through Downtown D.C., you’ll be on the oldest part of the system. With 106.3 miles of tracks and 86 stations in 2 states and the District of Columbia, Metro is the 2nd largest rail transit system in the U.S.
- Metro’s train lines are organized by color (Red, Blue, Orange, Green, and Yellow)
- You can find what colors serve each station by looking at the colored stripes on the top of the brown station identification pylon outside the station entrance.
- Fares are higher during peak travel times (Weekdays, Opening-9:30am and 3-7pm and Weekends, 2am-Closing)
- Don’t put your farecard near your cell phone – it’ll become demagnetized and useless.
Most hotels and attractions in downtown D.C. (including the Convention Center) are within a few blocks of a Metro station so hop aboard and enjoy your ride.
Metro’s Wheaton Station in suburban Montgomery County, MD has its own claim to fame. Find out what truly uplifting record it holds and as well as other more helpful information for your visit to D.C. at our ALSC Annual Conference Wiki at http://wikis.ala.org/alsc/index.php/ALSC_%40_ALA_2010_Annual_Conference_in_the_Nation%27s_Capital.
– Chris 
Monica
Also, you can get a Metro pass for the day or week, which depending on when and how much you plan to travel, could save some money and hassle.