Getting There

The Northland Bioneers Conference is being held at the University of Minnesota, Willey Hall. 

225 19th Avenue S     Minneapolis, MN 55455

We know there are many upsides to presenting this conference at the University. However, getting to it when you are traveling by car is not at the top of that list. Don't worry, we'll do our best to guide you in. Starting with these options and directions. And note that it's one of the easiest places to get to by metro transit, which opens up access to more people.

Locals are encouraged to walk, bike, use metro transit, or carpool to the conference.

Map to West Bank and Willey hall http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/WilleyH

or

Travelers may want to check out green routes and accommodations.

YOU CAN SUPPORT THE NORTHLAND BIONEERS CONFERENCE ZERO WASTE INITIATIVE BY PRINTING DOUBLE SIDED OR ON RECYCLED PAPER

There are four sections.

1. Biking

2. Busing or Taking the Light Rail

3. Driving from N, S, E, W

4. Walking between the parking lot and Willey Hall

Willey Hall is located on the West Bank at the University of MN between Anderson Library and Walter Mondale Law School. 225 19th Avenue S Minneapolis, MN 55455

BIKING Bike Racks are located on North side of Willey Hall, just down the stairs. You will also find racks on Northeast side of Blegen. Bike paths lead directly to Willey and Blegen from 4th ST S (across from 21st Parking Ramp), from the Washington Ave bridge, and indirectly from West River Parkway. Turn left onto 22nd Ave S. At immediate T, veer right. Turn left onto 21st Ave. S. Turn right onto 2nd St. S. Then follow toward North side of Willey. http://www1.umn.edu/pts/maps/mnbike.htm

BUSING There are more than 35 bus routes traveling to the Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses with light-rail service just blocks from the West Bank campus. This may be a great time to try Metro Transit. This link shows all routes to the campus: All UMN routes: http://www.metrotransit.org/popularDest/university_routes.asp  Nearest LRT stop http://metrotransit.org/rail/stations/05_cedar.asp  

A couple of things to note if you decide to use metro transit during this conference. • Check your WEEKEND bus schedule as it is typically different than weekdays.

• Metro Transit fares range between .75 and 3.00 depending time and discounts for age and ability.

• You may want to print out the map where you’ll be connecting and stopping.

The FREE Campus Connector (Route 121) runs between 9:30a and midnight on SAT and SUN (more frequently on FRI). Route 121 loops: West Bank (Blegen Hall) to St. Paul Campus to East Bank to West Bank (Blegen Hall). Weekend route runs every 30 minutes. Bus stops are indicated on the following links. Start times each day of the conference are about 30 minutes after the first Bioneers program. http://www1.umn.edu/pts/maps/ebcc.htm  East Bank Route 121 Stops  http://www1.umn.edu/pts/maps/wbcc.htm West Bank Route 121 Stops http://www1.umn.edu/pts/maps/spcc.htm  St. Paul Route 121 Stops

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT: http://metrotransit.org/rail/stations/05_cedar.asp  

When you get off the light rail Cedar/Riverside continue walking straight ahead (North on 15th) two blocks.  Turn Right on Riverside (by Mixed Blood Theater) and go about two blocks to 19th.  Cross 19th, then you are on  campus.  Walk to 20th Ave.S and turn left. Cross 4th St. and walk past Wilson (keep building on your left), past Blegen, and then straight to Willey Hall.

Suburban Links http://www.metrotransit.org/otherTransOpts/index.asp 

General Metro Transit: http://www.metrotransit.org/  

DRIVING

By car, the West Bank area is easily accessed by Interstates 35W and 94. The new I-35W bridge opened for traffic on Sept. 18, 2008.

From the south on 35W: As you near downtown Minneapolis, continue on 35W as it narrows to two lanes. The lanes will lead you to the 3rd Street /U of M exit sign. Follow this and the West Bank sign to Washington Avenue S. Turn right on Washington Ave S. Turn left at stop light onto 15th (which is also Washington Ave S). Holiday Inn will be on your left. Choose from parking options below which directs you from this intersection of 15th Ave S (which is also Washington Ave S) and 19th Ave S.

From the north on 35W: Exit at Washington Ave. Turn left at the first set of lights (Washington Ave S). Cross the bridge and turn left on 15th (this is also call Washington Ave S). Holiday Inn will be on your left. Choose from parking options below which directs you from this intersection of 15th Ave S (which is also Washington Ave S) and 19th Ave S.

From the east on 94: exit Riverside Ave/ 25th. Turn right onto Riverside.

From the west on 94: exit 25th/ Riverside Ave. Turn left onto Riverside.

PARKING OPTIONS 

From 15th Ave S (which is also Washington Ave S) and 19th Ave S   If you are unloading items, Drive east on 2nd Ave S (which is the continuation of Washington Ave S). 2nd St. S, winds around the north side of Walter Mondale Hall and Willey Hall. Go past the first parking lot on your right (lot C86) and take the next right into a smaller parking lot (lot C88). Go straight through the lot to the angled double doors (they will be labeled with a Northland Bioneers sign) on the north side of Willey Hall (don’t go to the loading dock to your right).

Enter the angled double doors. Take a right down the corridor until you hit a locker room and take a left. Then take the next left. If the north elevator is in use, go past the elevator and continue down the hall to the east elevator. After you have unloaded, you may want to see if there is on street parking. See FREE on street parking below. Or, lot 86 is open to the public. After 5p lot 86 is $6. Before 5p, it charges hourly.

From 15th Ave S (which is also Washington Ave S) and 19th Ave S:  If you are parking, drive south on 19th Ave S (this is a right turn if you have just passed Holiday Inn and Grandma’s Saloon on your left). Turn east, or left on 4th St. Turn right on 21st Ave S and immediately enter ramp.

Walking from the 21st Ave Ramp to Willey Hall exit on the north side of the ramp (on 4th St). Walk across the street. Continue walking north between Carlson School of Management and Rarig Theater. Walk beyond Wilson Library on your left all the way to Willey Hall’s East entrance where you’ll be greeted and applauded for your journey.

People on wheels or having special needs: You may prefer to enter Blegen Hall’s east entrance, just before Willey Hall. There are automatic doors and a ramp to Willey Hall after you follow the classroom corridor. After traveling north through Blegen and then through the skyway you will find Willey and volunteers awaiting your arrival.

From Riverside:   If you are unloading items, follow Riverside to 19th Ave S. Turn right onto 19th Ave S. Drive over bridge. Turn right at 2nd St. S, which winds around the north side of Walter Mondale Hall and Willey Hall. Go past the first parking lot on your right (lot C86) and take the next right into a smaller parking lot (lot C88). Go straight through the lot to the angled double doors (they will be labeled with a Northland Bioneers sign) on the north side of Willey Hall (don’t go to the loading dock to your right). Enter the angled double doors. Take a right down the corridor until you hit a locker room and take a left. Then take the next left. If the north elevator is in use, go past the elevator and continue down the hall to the east elevator. After you have unloaded, you may want to see if there is on street parking. See FREE on street parking below. Or, lot 86 is open to the public. After 5p lot 86 is $6. Before 5p, it charges hourly.

From Riverside: If you are parking, follow Riverside to 21st St. Turn right onto 21st St. Turn left into public ramp. Park, then exit on the 4th St side of the ramp. Walk across the street. Continue walking north between Carlson School of Management and Rarig Theater. Walk beyond Wilson Library on your left all the way to Willey Hall’s East entrance where you’ll be greeted and applauded for your journey.

The 21st Avd Ramp has 13 disability permit spaces. This is best parking for People on wheels or special needs: May prefer to enter Blegen Hall’s east entrance, just before Willey Hall. There are automatic doors and a ramp to Willey Hall after you follow the classroom corridor. After traveling north through Blegen and then through the skyway you will find Willey and volunteers awaiting your arrival.

21st St Ramp pricing: $6 after 5p FRI, and all day on SAT/SUN, Sometimes FREE ON SUN

Additional Parking options:

C) Limited FREE Parking on weekends is located on street at 1st St S at 21st Ave S.

From 15th Ave S (Washington Ave) and 19th Ave South., continue east across 19th Ave S. 15th turns into 2nd St S. Follow along past parking lots (on the right). Turn left on 21st Ave South. and find parking just ahead on 1st St South. There is no time limit on weekends.

From Riverside, turn right onto 19th. Turn right onto 2nd St. South. Follow along past parking lots (on the right). Turn left on 21st Ave S. and find parking just ahead on 1st St South. There is no time limit on weekends.

D) If options A through C are full, the 19th Ave Ramp is also $6 on weekends. No FREE Sunday.

From 15th Ave S (Washington Ave) and 19th Ave South., turn right on 19th Ave South. Turn right on Riverside and immediately look for right turn into ramp. From Riverside continue past 19th Ave S and take immediate right turn into parking ramp.

Walking from 19th Ave Ramp: There is a skyway into Carlson School of Management. You will need to exit Carlson School of Management and head north toward Heller, Blegen and then Willey. People on wheels or special needs: May prefer to enter Blegen Hall’s east entrance, just before Willey Hall. There are automatic doors and a ramp to Willey Hall after you follow the classroom corridor. After traveling north through Blegen and then through the skyway you will find Willey and volunteers awaiting your arrival.

Exiting Campus YOU MIGHT WANT TO CIRCLE THE RAMP WHERE YOU PARKED AND NOTE THE FLOOR LEVEL FOR AN EASY RETURN BACK TO YOUR CAR.

If you are parked in the 21st Ave Ramp Walk from east doors of Willey Hall south toward ramp. You’ll pass Wilson Library on your right.

To get to 35W North, South, 94 West and 55/Hiawatha: From corner of 20th Ave S and 4th Ave S, take 4th Ave toward 19th Ave S. Turn right onto 19th Ave S. Turn left onto Washington Ave S. Turn right at stop light to stay on Washington Ave. 35W North is the exit toward the right 35W South is across the bridge and a left turn to the ramp 94W is across the bridge and a left turn to the ramp HWY 55/ Hiawatha is across the bridge and a left turn to ramp

To get to 94 East: From corner of 20th Ave S and 4th Ave S, take left on 20th Ave S. Turn right on Riverside. Cross 19th Ave S. Turn left on Cedar. Turn left as soon as you pass under the freeway (this is easy to miss) onto 94E entrance ramp.

If you are parked in Lot 86 or the free street parking on 1st Ave South

To get to 35W North, South, 94 West and 55/Hiawatha: From corner of 2nd Ave S and 19th Ave S: Cross 19th Ave toward Washington Ave S. Turn right at stop light to stay on Washington Ave. 35W North is the exit toward the right 35W South is across the bridge and a left turn to the ramp 94W is across the bridge and a left turn to the ramp HWY 55/ Hiawatha is across the bridge and a left turn to ramp

To get to 94 East: From the corner of 2nd Ave S and 19th Ave S: Turn left on 19th Ave South. Cross the bridge. Turn right on Riverside. Turn left on Cedar. Turn left as soon as you pass under the freeway (this is easy to miss) onto 94E entrance ramp.

 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE FOUND

Accessability Information for parking can be found at http://www1.umn.edu/pts/disability.htm.

Here are a couple of excerpts from the UMN site:

Most parking facilities on campus have designated disability parking spaces. A State of Minnesota disability permit or license plate is required to use these spaces. All patrons pay the standard rate charged in these parking facilities.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS Parking and Transportation Services will work one-on-one with any person who has disability access needs and wants contract parking. If you have a special request, please contact our office at 612-626-7275 or e-mail parking@umn.edu.