Proposed Itinerary and Speakers for Detroit Trip: Please provide feedback! (smartgrowthced@googlegroups.com)

[Lauren Meloche (Google Docs)]

I've shared Proposed Itinerary and Speakers for Detroit Trip: Please provide feedback!

Message from lauren...@gmail.com:

Hello everyone!

Planning is moving forward on Smart Growth's Trip to Detroit, taking place over winter break, the weekend of January 7th and 8th. With your results from the survey, we have put together a draft itinerary and some ideas for possible speakers and site visits. We'd like you to weigh in on these ideas! 
Please check out the Google Doc spreadsheet - The draft itinerary and list of speakers are on the first tab. Please provide any comments or suggestions on the second tab. We will use your feedback to finalize our activities. The sooner we have your comments, the sooner we can finalize the agenda, so please review the Google Doc and give us your feedback BY DECEMBER 18th! 

Thanks everyone, we appreciate your feedback! I'm looking forward to an awesome trip!

Please keep an eye out for the formal RSVP request, coming soon!


More information about the trip:

(*Please keep in mind that most arrangements are still tentative at this point.)

WHEN: 
The trip will take place the first weekend in January, with flexible dates to accommodate those with limited time as well as those who would like to extend their stay a bit longer. We will attempt to plan all of the main activities on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th, assuming most people will arrive by Friday night and be leaving Monday morning. However, feel free to plan to arrive earlier than Friday or to stay past Sunday and I can work with you to arrange additional accommodations. 

HOW: 
Transportation 
1) The Megabus now runs between Pittsburgh and Detroit! This is an incredibly cheap way to travel, and is cheaper the sooner you book your ticket. The Megabus stop in Pittsburgh is downtown, outside of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. We will arrange to pick you up from the Megabus stop in Detroit and to drop you back off at the stop when you are travelling back to Pittsburgh. (Please keep this in mind when selecting the TIME of your arrival. Generally, try not to arrive in Detroit after 2am or plan to leave Detroit on your return trip before 8am.) Depending on when you book your ticket and the time of day you’ll be travelling, expected round-trip cost is between $10 and $80. 
2) For those interested in carpooling, please fill out the Google Doc spreadsheet to help coordinate these carpools. Expected round-trip cost per car is about $80-$90 in gas and $25 in tolls. 

Lodging
1) We are working on renting a large house to accommodate everyone in our group. (Giant slumber party!) This will likely be a 3-bedroom house near the Cultural District and the College for Creative Studies campus in Midtown, Detroit. You are welcome to find other accommodations, but it will be easier logistically, cheaper, and more fun if everyone stays at the same place. Expected cost is $10-$25 per night. 
2) For those planning to arrive in Detroit before Friday, January 6 or staying in Detroit later than Monday, January 9, I can work with you individually to find cheap lodging accommodations. 

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• Proposed Itinerary and Speakers for Detroit Trip: Please provide feedback!

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