Greenbelt International Family Network


Bus/train The city of Greenbelt has a good public transportation system, in addition to a well maintained road system and walkways/park system for pedestrians. County "The Bus" and Metro buses serve the Greenbelt area, with the Greenbelt Metro Rail/MARC station as the natural hub. From here you can take the metro to downtown Washington DC and National Airport, the MARC train to Baltimore, or the bus to BWI airport. An excellent site to explore the possibilities of the D.C area metro transportation system is www.wmata.com where you can find/search routes, fares and browse maps and time schedules. For "The Bus" schedules go to http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/AgencyIndex/DPW&T/Transit/thebus.asp?nivel=foldmenu(2) If you plan to park your car at the metro station, you need to buy a SmarTrip card, which costs $5, and can be bought at one of the machines inside the metro station or online. You can add money to the SmarTrip card at one of the machines (cash or credit card), or on metro buses (cash only), and the card can then be used to pay for parking and also pay your fare on the bus or the train. Buying a Car A reliable source is the used cars network www.carmax.com. You can check out cars online, then request a test-drive at the local showroom (the nearest one is Laurel.) They offer a good (free) babysitting service here while you test-drive the car and complete paperwork. Also the price is non-negotiable, which saves the hassle of haggling with the salesperson. Each US car is issued with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) upon which you can retrieve the vehicle history for free at www.carfax.com. If you intend to use a car during your stay in the US it is highly recommended that you contact the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) as soon as you know that you are going to the US, and book an appointment for documental review. The normal waiting time is three months for this procedure. If your documental review is fine you can take the written and driving tests the same day and thus convert your international drivers license to a Maryland one. Note that you are obliged to take the compulsory three hour drug and alcoholic course and bring proof of participation to the documental review. Auto Repair Mobil station, next to Roosevelt Center, Crescent Rd, Greenbelt George’s Amoco, 8153 Baltimore Blvd Cherry Hill Exxon, 11417 Cherry Hill Rd, Beltsville Car Rentals Cars can be rented from various companies, such as www.enterprise.com or www.zipcar.com. You should be aware that the point service insurance on international drivers license usually effectively doubles the rate quoted on the website. Normally to rent a truck or equivalent for moving larger items requires an American drivers license. Taxi Service A reliable service is On Time Taxi in College Park, 301-474-6111. Air There are three major airports in the area: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI.) There is a bus (B30) which offers frequent service between Greenbelt Metro Station and BWI, and you can take the metro to National Airport. Alternatively, you can take the SuperShuttle, which offers door-to-door service between your home and any of these airports. Go to www.supershuttle.com

Bus/train

The city of Greenbelt has a good public transportation system, in addition to a well maintained road system and walkways/park system for pedestrians. County "The Bus" and Metro buses serve the Greenbelt area, with the Greenbelt Metro Rail/MARC station as the natural hub. From here you can take the metro to downtown Washington DC and National Airport, the MARC train to Baltimore, or the bus to BWI airport.

An excellent site to explore the possibilities of the D.C area metro transportation system is www.wmata.com where you can find/search routes, fares and browse maps and time schedules. For "The Bus" schedules go to http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/AgencyIndex/DPW&T/Transit/thebus.asp?nivel=foldmenu(2)

If you plan to park your car at the metro station, you need to buy a SmarTrip card, which costs $5, and can be bought at one of the machines inside the metro station or online. You can add money to the SmarTrip card at one of the machines (cash or credit card), or on metro buses (cash only), and the card can then be used to pay for parking and also pay your fare on the bus or the train.

Buying a Car

A reliable source is the used cars network www.carmax.com. You can check out cars online, then request a test-drive at the local showroom (the nearest one is Laurel.) They offer a good (free) babysitting service here while you test-drive the car and complete paperwork. Also the price is non-negotiable, which saves the hassle of haggling with the salesperson.

Each US car is issued with a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) upon which you can retrieve the vehicle history for free at www.carfax.com.

If you intend to use a car during your stay in the US it is highly recommended that you contact the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) as soon as you know that you are going to the US, and book an appointment for documental review. The normal waiting time is three months for this procedure. If your documental review is fine you can take the written and driving tests the same day and thus convert your international drivers license to a Maryland one. Note that you are obliged to take the compulsory three hour drug and alcoholic course and bring proof of participation to the documental review.

Auto Repair

Mobil station, next to Roosevelt Center, Crescent Rd, Greenbelt

George’s Amoco, 8153 Baltimore Blvd

Cherry Hill Exxon, 11417 Cherry Hill Rd, Beltsville

Car Rentals

Cars can be rented from various companies, such as www.enterprise.com or www.zipcar.com. You should be aware that the point service insurance on international drivers license usually effectively doubles the rate quoted on the website. Normally to rent a truck or equivalent for moving larger items requires an American drivers license.

Taxi Service

A reliable service is On Time Taxi in College Park, 301-474-6111.

Air

There are three major airports in the area: Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI.) There is a bus (B30) which offers frequent service between Greenbelt Metro Station and BWI, and you can take the metro to National Airport. Alternatively, you can take the SuperShuttle, which offers door-to-door service between your home and any of these airports. Go to www.supershuttle.com