Transportation & Lodging
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Ballast Monitoring Practicums-2019: Transportation & Lodging Information
May 30-31, 2019 in Duluth-Superior June 3-4, 2019 in Erie
You must make your hotel reservation by May 10, 2019 in order to get the discounted rate that we've arranged for a block of rooms in Superior and Erie. We are past the deadline for the guaranteed block of rooms for the Practicums; however, they may still have a few rooms available. it is a busy timeof year (weddings, etc.), so don't delay.
Scroll down for separate sections on:
Port of Duluth-Superior
Port Erie
If you are going to both Practicums
Participants who requested travel subsidies
Port of Duluth-Superior
Lodging in Superior: Most activities will take place in Superior, Wisconsin. A block of rooms has been reserved in Superior at the Barker's Island Inn for the period of May 29 - 31, 2019. You must make the reservation for your lodging by contacting the Inn directly. Identify yourself as attending the Ballast Monitoring Practicum to get the special rate ($82 per night, plus 13% tax):
Toll-free Telephone: (800) 344-7515 or Local: (715) 392-7152
Email: info@barkersislandinn.com or frontdesk@barkersislandinn.com
Since this is a special rate for a block of rooms, you cannot get the same rate through their web site.
Transportation: Transportation from the airport (DLH, in Duluth, MN) to Barker's Island Inn in Superior (about 25 min by car) is only by taxi, Uber/Lyft, or rental car. If you advise us of your time of arrival, we may be able to coordinate a pick-up and local transportation to and from the Barker's Island Inn.
Port Erie
Lodging in Erie: Most activities will take place at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, adjacent to Erie's Presque Isle State Park. A block of rooms has been reserved in Erie at the Belaire Hotel for the period of June 2 - 4, 2019. You must make the reservation for your lodging by contacting the hotel directly, by calling
(814) 833-1116. Identify yourself as attending the Ballast Monitoring Practicum to get the special rate ($99 per night, plus tax). Since this is a special rate for a block of rooms, you cannot get the same rate through their web site.
Transportation: You can fly into Erie (ERI) or into Cleveland (CLE) or Pittsburgh (PIT). The Belaire has a hotel shuttle that can transport you from the airport if you fly into ERI. If you drive from the airport to the Belaire Hotel, it will take you 5 min from ERI, 1 hr 46 min from CLE, and 2 hr 10 min from PIT.
If you are attending both workshops
If you are flying from Duluth (DLH), some of us have found the most convenient, efficient route is flying into Cleveland (CLE) and driving to Erie. The rental cars in CLE are 30% less expensive than at ERI, and there is a greater selection. Plus, you avoid one airflight connection! PIT is similar to CLE. Several of the facilitators will be traveling together from Duluth to Erie on June 1, departing DLH at 7 am, arriving CLE by 12:47 pm, and renting a vehicle to drive two hours to Erie, enabling ride- and idea-sharing along the way! You could also do similar flight plans later in the day or on June 2. Keep us informed of your travel plans.
Participants who requested travel subsidies
If you were invited to the Practicums and requested a travel subsidy, you will have to provide paperwork to receive the reimbursement. First, you need to complete a W-9 form* and email it to Jeff Ram (jeffram(at)wayne.edu), preferably before your travel. Then, at the Practicum(s) you need to provide receipts for the amounts that you are requesting, which may total up to the limit of the subsidy you requested (up to $500 for one Practicum; a maximum of $1,000 for the two Practicums). If you are requesting reimbursement for mileage for driving your personal vehicle, you will need to provide documentation of the miles (e..g a Google maps printout showing the exact distance of your round trip travel), and a calculation based on 58 cents per mile. Aside from transportation (flight, rental car, pesonal car mileage), legitimate travel expenses include your hotel room, and meals that were not provided by the Practicums (generally, remimbursed at standard per diem rates; however, please provide copies of receipts in case additional documentation is requested). The receipts for flights and for rental cars must show the complete itinerary of the flight or of the pick-up/drop off even if you are only asking for partial reimbursement. We will provide a travel reimbursement form for you to sign at the Practicum.
*If you are a foreign individual or entity and requesting the subsidy, you will have to use Form W-8BEN or Form W-BEN-E, respectively, instead of the W-9. Email the completed form to Jeff Ram (jeffram(at)wayne.edu).
Lodging in Superior: Most activities will take place in Superior, Wisconsin. A block of rooms has been reserved in Superior at the Barker's Island Inn for the period of May 29 - 31, 2019. You must make the reservation for your lodging by contacting the Inn directly. Identify yourself as attending the Ballast Monitoring Practicum to get the special rate ($82 per night, plus 13% tax):
Toll-free Telephone: (800) 344-7515 or Local: (715) 392-7152
Email: info@barkersislandinn.com or frontdesk@barkersislandinn.com
Since this is a special rate for a block of rooms, you cannot get the same rate through their web site.
Transportation: Transportation from the airport (DLH, in Duluth, MN) to Barker's Island Inn in Superior (about 25 min by car) is only by taxi, Uber/Lyft, or rental car. If you advise us of your time of arrival, we may be able to coordinate a pick-up and local transportation to and from the Barker's Island Inn.
Port Erie
Lodging in Erie: Most activities will take place at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, adjacent to Erie's Presque Isle State Park. A block of rooms has been reserved in Erie at the Belaire Hotel for the period of June 2 - 4, 2019. You must make the reservation for your lodging by contacting the hotel directly, by calling
(814) 833-1116. Identify yourself as attending the Ballast Monitoring Practicum to get the special rate ($99 per night, plus tax). Since this is a special rate for a block of rooms, you cannot get the same rate through their web site.
Transportation: You can fly into Erie (ERI) or into Cleveland (CLE) or Pittsburgh (PIT). The Belaire has a hotel shuttle that can transport you from the airport if you fly into ERI. If you drive from the airport to the Belaire Hotel, it will take you 5 min from ERI, 1 hr 46 min from CLE, and 2 hr 10 min from PIT.
If you are attending both workshops
If you are flying from Duluth (DLH), some of us have found the most convenient, efficient route is flying into Cleveland (CLE) and driving to Erie. The rental cars in CLE are 30% less expensive than at ERI, and there is a greater selection. Plus, you avoid one airflight connection! PIT is similar to CLE. Several of the facilitators will be traveling together from Duluth to Erie on June 1, departing DLH at 7 am, arriving CLE by 12:47 pm, and renting a vehicle to drive two hours to Erie, enabling ride- and idea-sharing along the way! You could also do similar flight plans later in the day or on June 2. Keep us informed of your travel plans.
Participants who requested travel subsidies
If you were invited to the Practicums and requested a travel subsidy, you will have to provide paperwork to receive the reimbursement. First, you need to complete a W-9 form* and email it to Jeff Ram (jeffram(at)wayne.edu), preferably before your travel. Then, at the Practicum(s) you need to provide receipts for the amounts that you are requesting, which may total up to the limit of the subsidy you requested (up to $500 for one Practicum; a maximum of $1,000 for the two Practicums). If you are requesting reimbursement for mileage for driving your personal vehicle, you will need to provide documentation of the miles (e..g a Google maps printout showing the exact distance of your round trip travel), and a calculation based on 58 cents per mile. Aside from transportation (flight, rental car, pesonal car mileage), legitimate travel expenses include your hotel room, and meals that were not provided by the Practicums (generally, remimbursed at standard per diem rates; however, please provide copies of receipts in case additional documentation is requested). The receipts for flights and for rental cars must show the complete itinerary of the flight or of the pick-up/drop off even if you are only asking for partial reimbursement. We will provide a travel reimbursement form for you to sign at the Practicum.
*If you are a foreign individual or entity and requesting the subsidy, you will have to use Form W-8BEN or Form W-BEN-E, respectively, instead of the W-9. Email the completed form to Jeff Ram (jeffram(at)wayne.edu).
For more information, contact
Jeffrey Ram at jeffram@gmail.com
or Allegra Cangelosi at allegracangelosi@gmail.com