Oregon University System (OUS)
Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program
Summer Orientation 2008
September 8 - 18, 2008

Transportation

If you will be flying within the US on a US airline:

For very important information regarding restrictions to carry-on baggage contents for flights within the US, please see this press release on the Transportation Safety Administration website.

Also, many US airlines have checked baggage limits of two pieces of luggage at 50 lbs. each. Please check your airline carrier's website for specifics before you fly!

Group Flight
A group flight has been arranged by the Oregon Study Center in Tuebingen. The flight will arrive in Portland on Monday, September 3rd.

PSU Airport pick-up Service
PSU's International Special Programs office will provide free airport pick-up service for those BW Orientation participants arriving on the September 8 Group Flight.

Arriving on your own
If you plan to arrive on a different flight or different day, please let the PSU International Special Programs Office know your flight arrival schedule. We will do our best to send someone to the airport to meet you; however, we cannot guarantee that we'll be able to accommodate everyone's individual requests for airport pick-up.

If you arrive on a different date or choose to arrange your own transportation, please be ready to meet us at 2:00 p.m. on September 8 in Ondine Hall. Please contact us before then if you will be arriving separately so that we can tell you exactly where to meet us.

Taxi
If you are traveling on your own, the best way to get from Portland International Airport to PSU is to take a taxi. Taxis are located in front of the airport on the lower level outside of baggage claim. Estimate taxi fare from the Portland airport into downtown and PSU is $35, one way. Depending on traffic conditions, it is a 20-30 minute drive.

MAX Light Rail Train
For travelers without much luggage who are staying at a hotel in downtown Portland, we recommend taking the MAX train from the airport into downtown. You must take the Westbound to City Center / Beaverton train.

The MAX light rail train departs from the airport lobby lower level at the south end of the baggage claim area every 15 minutes. A one-way ticket from the airport to the central downtown area takes about 40 minutes.

It is a 15-minute walk from the Pioneer Place MAX station to PSU. You can also transfer to one of several bus lines on 3rd Avenue that stop at PSU. City buses within downtown Portland are free.

Within downtown Portland
Downtown Portland is a very walkable and pedestrian-friendly city. The center of downtown (including shopping and cultural attractions) is just steps from the PSU campus.

Public Transportation
Portland boasts one of the best public transportation systems in the USA. The TriMet transportation system includes buses, MAX light-rail train, and streetcar. Within the downtown core, in "Fareless Square," the buses, MAX, and streetcar are free.

Bicycle
Many BW students buy bicycles while they are in the US. During the orientation we will have a special session giving advice on buying a bicycle.

Buying a Car
Some BW students choose to buy a car during their stay. During the orientation we will have a special session that gives advice on buying a car, road safety, and traveling by car in the US.

For Oregon drivers license information, please view the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.

Getting to your University

For those students studying at University of Oregon, Oregon State, Western Oregon, Southern Oregon or Eastern Oregon Universities, PSU will provide transportation to each school at the end of the first and second weeks of the orientation. Our staff will drive you to U of O, OSU, and WOU, where staff will meet you. PSU will provide a $50 travel stipend (to puchase a bus ticket or cover rental car expenses) to students going to EOU or SOU.