* Indicates that there is an additional fee associated with attendees participating in this event. See the details on the web site when registering.

Download Program (PDF - 105KB)
Download Registration Costs (PDF - 320KB)

View Program Summary
Register Online

Opening Session
Friday, May 29th
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Speaker: Dennis R. Schrader, Maryland Department of Transportation Deputy Administrator & David S. Kim, Associate Administrator for Policy and Governmental Affairs, Federal Highway Administration

Biography:
Dennis R. Schrader was appointed by Governor Larry Hogan to serve as Deputy Secretary of Policy, Planning and Enterprise Services for the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on January 27, 2015.  In this capacity, he oversees the offices of Planning and Capital Programming, Legislative Affairs, Technology and Real Estate.

Mr. Schrader possesses considerable public and private-sector experience in executive and engineering administration with expertise in emergency preparation and homeland security, hospital administration and project management.  Prior to his appointment, Mr. Schrader worked in the private sector, including as Director of Integrity Consulting, LLC and the successful operation of his own business, DRS International, LLC, providing clients with guidance and leadership on issues involving homeland security-emergency management, systems engineering support and infrastructure resilience.

Before launching his own business, Mr. Schrader served as Deputy Administrator of the National Preparedness Directorate of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after being confirmed by the United States Senate on August 17, 2007.  In that capacity, he oversaw the coordination and development of resources and tools needed to prepare for all hazards scenarios, including acts of terrorism.

Prior to this assignment, Mr. Schrader served as Maryland's first Director of Homeland Security under Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.  In this newly established position, he is credited with the establishment of the office, as well as introducing efforts to improve public safety communications and advance information sharing abilities within the state. Mr. Schrader also held various leadership positions during a 16-year career at the University of Maryland Medical System, leading the physical transformation of the Medical facilities.

David S. Kim is Associate Administrator for Policy and Governmental Affairs at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). He began in August 2011 after spending two years as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary.

In his current role at FHWA, David serves as principal advisor to the Federal Highway Administrator and manages a team of 75 career employees involved in transportation policy development, legislative analysis, highway data collection and analysis, and international programs. David also serves as DOT's representative on the Interagency Working Group of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Prior to joining DOT, David spent five years with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) as Deputy Executive Officer, Federal Advocacy and Government Relations. In this capacity, he led the agency's Government Relations Department and managed federal relations on behalf of one of the largest transit providers in the country.

From 1999 to 2003, David served as Deputy Director in the Washington office of California Governor Gray Davis. He represented the State of California's interests before Congress and the executive branch on transportation, water, energy and environmental issues. From 1998 to 1999, David worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) as Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs. He also spent three years as a Washington representative for the City of Los Angeles.

David also spent a decade serving on the staff of numerous elected officials in Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington. He spent five years with Congressman Xavier Becerra in various capacities, including overseeing the day-to-day operations of his Sacramento office while Mr. Becerra served in the California State Assembly. David began his public service career as a field representative and administrative assistant to State Senator David Roberti.

A native of Davis, CA, David earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Occidental College and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

David resides in Fairfax County, VA with his wife, Julie, and two children, Tessa and Jaisohn.

Technical Session 1A:
Friday, May 29th
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Engineering Ethics

Speaker: Dr. Alfred H. Guy, Jr., Associate Professor, Division of Legal, Ethical and  Historical Studies, University of Baltimore

Session Narrative:
Professional engineering ethics is defined as the field of applied ethics and the system of moral principles that apply to the practice of engineering. The field examines and sets the obligations by engineers to society, to their clients, and to the profession.  Engineers, whether from the public or prviate sector, encounter conflicts more often than desired. Issues related to conflicts of interest, whistleblowing, questionable conduct, and stretching of honorable and technical principles are just a few of the concerns in today's society that will be discussed.

The ethics training will consist of a short presentation followed by group breakout session in which participants will be asked to decide what is the right or wrong course of action in a number of real-life ethics cases in engineering.  Emphasis is placed on participants considering both their professional code of ethics and their own personal ethics in analyzing and evaluating each case.  The session will encourage participants to exchange ideas and opinions about the kinds of ethical issues the face in their own particular careers as engineers.

Biography: 
Dr. Alfred H. Guy, Jr.
B.A. Auburn University
M.A., Ph.D. University of Georgia

Dr. Fred Guy teaches courses in ethics, and the history of philosophy in the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts, where he also serves as coordinator of the university core curriculum on Ethical Issues in Business and Society.  He has written and lectured on ethics in the workplace, teaching ethics, codes of ethics, ethical decision making, moral education, and personal ethics in professional life.  Dr. Guy was awarded the Distinguished Chair in Teaching in 1990-91 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2000-01 for the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts.   Dr. Guy has served as Director for the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics from 1994 until the present during which time he and his staff have created and produced over two hundred and fifty ethics programs for University of Baltimore, students and faculty, and for area for-profit and non-profit communities.

Session Narrative:
On the afternoon of Thursday, September 26th, 2013, a non-commissioned US Naval Ship struck the bottom truss of the Mathews Bridge while under tow. The bridge is part of a heavily travelled corridor through downtown Jacksonville and carries up to 56,000 vehicles a day. Within 76 hours after the ship hit the underside of the bridge, RS&H and its subconsultants, working closely with FDOT District Two Bridge Maintenance, produced a biddable set of construction plans to provide so that the Department could procure a contractor to immediately begin repairs. Having the bridge fully operational and safely open to traffic before the annual Florida-Georgia football game was of economic importance to the City of Jacksonville, and this became reality when the bridge became fully operational ahead of schedule and only 33 days post-impact. This presentation will focus on the unique circumstances surrounding the impact and survival of this fractural critical structure, hidden structural redundancies, team leadership and responsiveness, and innovations utilized during the process to help make this a success.

Biography:
Stephen O. Fowler, PE is a Bridge Engineer with RS&H, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida, and has been with the firm since 2008. He graduated with a BSCE from the University of Florida in 2008.  He served as a design consultant engineer for the Mathews Bridge Emergency Repairs, and his involvement and modeling of the bridge dates back to 2008.  Mr. Fowler’s involvement with the Mathews Bridge includes the load rating of truss chords and gusset plates, truss strengthening, and the emergency repair effort.

Session Narrative:
Alaska’s public transportation system lies within one of the most inhospitable and challenging environments on the entire planet.  With approximately 80 percent of the state underlain by ice-rich permafrost, 6640 miles of coastline (more than the other 49 states combined), and roughly 47,300 miles of tidally affected shoreline, Alaska is at the forefront of climate change impacts. In addition, a significant percentage of the state’s transportation system is constructed over permafrost and adjacent to or in close proximity to the coast and other water bodies including rivers, streams, and lakes.  For these reasons, Alaska’s transportation system is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOTPF) is responsible for managing the state’s transportation infrastructure in this challenging environment.  Mike Coffey will discuss climate change impacts on Alaska’s transportation infrastructure and discuss how the department is adapting to the changing environment.

Biography:
Mike Coffey is the Chief, Statewide Maintenance and Operations for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and serves within the Commissioner’s Office.  He has over 32 years with the Department and had served in several different capacities (Design, Construction, Regional M&O) before becoming the Statewide Maintenance and Operations Chief in 2008.  Mike is responsible for providing overall leadership and guidance to the approximately 1000+ M&O and State Equipment Fleet employees across the State.

Mike has extensive experience in dealing with permafrost and other arctic conditions as they relate to the maintenance and construction of the state’s transportation infrastructure.  Mike has been extremely active with climate change adaptation issues in Alaska.    He previously served on the Alaska’s Climate Change Adaptation Public Infrastructure Technical Workgroup and on the Climate Change Immediate Action Workgroup that was tasked with addressing the immediate needs of several imperiled communities.  Mike also sat on an Independent Review Panel for Assessing the Impacts of Climate Variability on Transportation Infrastructure sponsored by the Western Federal Lands division of the Federal Highway Administration.  He has spoken extensively on ADOTPF’s involvement with climate change impacts in rural Alaska.

Speakers: Steve Torgerson, RLA, MLA, ASLA and Laura Mehiel, PE

Session Narrative:
This presentation highlights the process and results in the development of best practices in green infrastructure (GI) planning, design and implementation in streetscapes along the District of Columbia’s (the District) urban corridors. The District, like most ultra-urban areas, experiences increased stormwater runoff that results from development. This runoff overwhelms the sewer systems and degrades aquatic resources when not adequately managed, and over time contributes to unacceptable pollutant levels in local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. In 2013, the District revised its Stormwater Management Regulations as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System. The EPA issued a Phase I National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit to the District which requires the retention of the 90th percentile rainfall event for all construction projects over 5,000 square feet. This applies to projects within the public right-of-way (ROW) to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP). Approximately 26 percent of the District’s land area is within the ROW, which provides a significant opportunity to improve the urban environment and reduce stormwater and other pollutants by using green infrastructure along its streetscapes. A multidisciplinary team was formed to analyze existing city and state programs and incorporate the latest research in the development of these best practices. The team was comprised of design specialists, expert educators, practitioners, and installers that included landscape architects, civil engineers, transportation engineers, water resource engineers, soil scientists, watershed planners, and arborists. This information was distilled into the standards, specifications, details and design guidance that designers will use for the 21st century to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay, reduce and reuse stormwater, moderate the heat island effect, expanded habitat for wildlife, increased property values and enhanced the streetscape experience. 

Biographies: 
Steve Torgerson, RLA, MLA, ASLA has over 15 years of experience in integrating sustainable design solutions  into the built environment. He has working in both the private and public sectors on numerous exciting projects that include several unique regions of the United States, including the California Coastline, Yosemite National Park, the Intermountain Region of Utah, Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians of Central Pennsylvania and throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He is a Registered Landscape Architect in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Utah.  He is currently a Senior Landscape Project Manager for A. Morton Thomas & Associates and focuses his design work integrating people with places that are ecologically sound, culturally significant and aesthetically pleasing.  Mr. Torgerson received his Bachelors of Landscape Architecture at Utah State University and his Masters of Landscape Architecture at The Pennsylvania State University.


Laura Mehiel, PE, has more than 28 years of civil engineering experience, with an emphasis on transportation and water resources engineering.  She joined A. Morton Thomas & Associates, Inc. in 2011, and has led some of their largest and most complex projects. As an Associate, she is responsible for project management, technical expertise, and research & development for public right-of-way infrastructure, stormwater management techniques, urban drainage design, and roadway engineering.  Laura specializes in alternative delivery projects, complex roadway and interchange projects, and mega-projects. Laura previously served as engineer-in-charge of the local office of one of the top five ENR “Pure Design” Firms, where she led her team on dozens of full service design projects including highway, hydrology/ hydraulics, environmental, landscape architecture, structures, geotechnical engineering, and construction management.  She is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Tennessee, and a member of ASHE-Potomac. Laura received her Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree with Distinction, Cum Laude, from the University of Delaware.

Session Narrative:
Through the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative, FHWA works with state and local transportation agencies and industry stakeholders to identify a new collection of innovations to champion every two years. Data-driven safety analysis builds on decades of past work and current collaborative efforts to promote the science of safety in the transportation community, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

By advocating a broader deployment of predictive and systemic analysis approaches to highway safety investment decision-making, FHWA seeks to improve on traditional approaches that rely on recent crash history data at a site and prioritizing hot-spot fixes. The goal is a more scientifically sound, data-driven approach to allocating resources that results in fewer fatalities and serious injuries on the nation's roadways.

John McFadden is a Bridge Engineer with FHWA Office of Safety Research and Development, and has been with FHWA 2001. Prior to joining FHWA, he served as an Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Alabama.  John has worked in the FHWA Resource Center as a Safety and Geometric Design Engineer has also worked in Research and Development which entailed managing safety and highway asset management related research projects and studies on quantifying the safety effects of low cost safety improvements.

John has a BSCE and Masters in Civil Engineering from Villanova University, a Masters of Science in Statistics from George Washington University and a PhD. in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.   John is a license Professional Engineer in several locations and is a Certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer.

Speaker:Maryland State Highway Administration Office of Traffic and Safety

Session Narrative:
Maximizing the efficiency of traffic operations during construction is an ever-increasing priority that affects the public perception and acceptance of transportation infrastructure improvements.   This session provides a review of successful strategies for deploying work zone safety measures, while meeting the requirements of maintenance of traffic plans in short-term unplanned scenarios, as well as larger-scale comprehensive plans that have system wide impacts.   The successful deployment of traffic management and communication tools ensures safety of the traveling public and construction teams bringing transportation improvements to fruition.
 

Speaker: Karen Rae

Session Narrative:
After more than a decade of delay, a New NY Bridge to replace the Tappan Zee is becoming a reality with the new bridge being designed and constructed to last 100 years without major structural maintenance.  Since October, 2011, new design-build legislation was enacted, concurrent environmental review and procurement processes were fast-tracked to allow for a 2013 construction start and planned 2018 completion at a cost of $3.9 billion.  With this critical corridor serving over 138,000 vehicles per day, the Tappan Zee Constructors team is working closely with a team from the New York State Thruway Authority and the State Department of Transportation deliver this state-of-art structure to the citizens of New York and the surrounding region. 

Biography:
Karen Rae was recently appointed Senior Advisor for Innovative Project Delivery for Empire State Development.  Ms. Rae, a nationally-recognized transportation expert with over 35 years of related experience, previously served as Governor Cuomo’s Deputy Secretary for Transportation, a position she held since 2011. In this role, she oversaw and coordinated budget, policy and the Governor’s initiatives within the transportation portfolio, including the New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Thruway/Canals Corporation, MTA, Department of Motor Vehicles, Port Authority of NY/NJ and New York State Bridge Authority.  She has been directly involved in representing Governor Cuomo during the passage of New York State’s first Design/Build legislation, coordinating transportation agencies efforts to expedite environmental review and procurement of the project. Before joining the Cuomo Administration, Ms. Rae served as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in the Obama Administration, where she managed the federal high speed rail initiative and developed national freight and passenger rail policy. Prior to this role, Ms. Rae was Deputy Commissioner of Policy and Planning at the New York State Department of Transportation and, prior, Director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, leading the effort to successfully negotiate a public/private partnership agreement and securing authorization to advance the Dulles Rail Project.  She also served as general manager of transit systems in Austin Texas, Glens Falls, NY and Buffalo, NY.  Ms. Rae was named WTS International Woman of the Year in 2010.

Speaker: Panel Discussion
Jodie Misiak, Director, Office of Innovative Project Delivery Maryland Department of Transportation; Morteza Farajian, Program Manager, Virginia Office of Public-Private Partnerships; Tom Macioce, P.E., Chief Bridge Engineer, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; and Chris Guthkelch, Project Director Skanska Infrastructure Development

Session Narrative:
This panel will address comprehensive challenges and success with current P3 initiatives and projects and developing trends in which private investment will be a critical factor for the delivery of critically needed transportation infrastructure.

Proposed Panel Questions:

1. What is the general state of the public perception of P3 projects and what are critical elements to achieving a suitable level of acceptance with the public and political leadership?
2. What are the most positive new aspects of P3 project development and delivery that should continue to be used in the future?  
3. (If appropriate)  What are the some negative P3 project development and delivery experience that should not continue to be used in the future?  
4. Does the P3 process work better or worse for particular types of project such as corridor rehabilitation, bridge replacement, light rail or tunnels?
5. Are there particular funding mechanisms such as tolling or availability payments that work best for P3 financial structuring? 
6. What the biggest challenges to successful P3 project delivery in the future?

Panel: 
Jodie Misiak, Director, Office of Innovative Project Delivery Maryland Department of Transportation
As Director of the Office of Innovative Project Delivery, Jodie Misiak guides the Department’s P3 and other innovative project delivery initiatives, including all stages of project development, solicitation, and delivery. She has been MDOT’s point person for recent statewide efforts to strengthen and clarify P3 policies and processes, including the P3 Commission in 2011 and the P3 law that was enacted in 2013. Prior to joining MDOT, she has held positions in the Economics and Business Solutions Group at Halcrow and in the Municipal Securities Group at UBS, specializing in transportation and P3s. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University and dual master’s degrees in City Planning and Transportation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Morteza Farajian, Program Manager, Virginia Office of Public-Private Partnerships (VAP3)
Morteza Farajian serves as a Program Manager in the Virginia Office of Public-Private Partnerships (VAP3).

In this position, he is responsible for leading in the development and procurement of multi-modal P3 projects, as well as providing input on financial guidance documents for the VAP3. He is currently working on the development of Transform 66 project, reached financial close on the US Route 460 Corridor Improvement projects as the procurement lead, and the serves as the procurement advisor on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel’s Thimble Shoal Tunnel project.

In 2015, Morteza received his Ph.D. at the Project Management Center for Excellence at the University of Maryland. He holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from American University of Sharjah. He also currently serves a board member on the Transportation Research Board’s Revenue and Finance Committee.

Morteza has a diverse background in engineering, finance, project management and business development; he has over 10 years of experience working in the public and private sectors both in the US and abroad, including 3 years with the Virginia Office of Public-Private Partnerships.


Tom Macioce, P.E., Chief Bridge Engineer, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Tom Macioce is the Chief Bridge Engineer with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in the Bureau of Project Delivery.  Mr. Macioce was a part of the team that developed the technical provisions for PennDOT’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project.  The project is to finance, design, construction and maintain 558 bridges. 

Chris Guthkelch is a Project Director for Skanska Infrastructure Development Inc  where he is responsible for developing a consistent, profitable East USA Public Private Partnership (P3) pipeline in conjunction with Skanska’s construction business units.

He has extensive P3 bidding experience in the UK, Canada and USA and was Bid Director for the $2.1 billion Elizabeth River Tunnels project in Portsmouth, VA, which is now under construction.

Technical Session:
Saturday, May 30th
8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
The Future of Transportation Funding - Road Usage Charging

Speaker:  Panel Discussion
Jack Opiola, Managing Partner & President, D Artagnan, Road Usage Charging Expert; Reema Griffith, Executive Director of the Washington State Transportation Commission

Moderator: Jennifer C. Yoder, CPSM, Vice  President, JRB Engineering, American Society for Highway Engineers DFW Section Founder

Session Narrative:
Transportation is essential for keeping people and the economy moving but current funding falls far short of what is needed to maintain and improve our current infrastructure.  A nationwide issue, some states are looking to user fees to solve the problem, such as tolling and road usage charging otherwise known as vehicle miles traveled. Join us for a presentation by a pioneer in congestion charging, electronic road pricing, and road user charging  throughout the world. Then, participate through live text message polling in a panel discussion on these issues and potential solutions.

Bios:
Jennifer Yoder, CPSM serves as Vice President of JRB Engineering, a full service DBE geotechnical, construction materials testing and environmental consulting firm with offices throughout Texas. Jennifer also represents JRB’s mentor firm Rone Engineering. Through industry and community organization involvement, Jennifer engages in the infrastructure community: creating, planning, and implementing signature, award winning events, fundraisers and educational programs. As a past chapter president, currently serving on the national business development committee, Jennifer is proud to be an active member of the Society for Marketing Professional Services. Jennifer also serves on the American Society for Highway Engineers (ASHE) SWOT, PR, and conference committees, and is spearheading the first section in Texas in Dallas / Fort Worth.

Jack Opiola, Managing Partner / President, D’Artagnan Consulting LLP
Jack Opiola leads the D’Artagnan Partnership’s efforts in policy, strategic program planning and implementation consultancy support for road user charging and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). He has over 35 years’ experience helping to create state, regional, and national transportation policy, as well as designing systems and back offices providing enhanced, integrated mobility with value-added ITS applications. He supports and has implemented road pricing research, technology, strategic planning, implementation, commissioning and business operations. Mr. Opiola has provided a thought leadership in interoperable all-electronic tolling and distance- based charging for systems in the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, and Singapore, He is working with multiple US states (Oregon, Washington, California) on mileage- or distanced-based Road Usage Charging systems and creating legislation for the next generation of transportation funding solutions.

Moderator: Dave Greenwood, PE, CDM Smith               
Speaker/Tour Guide: Dave LaBella, PE, Program Manager, Maryland Transportation Authority

Session Narrative:
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) is completing construction of the Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) on the most congested portion of I-95 north of Baltimore City. This 8-mile segment stretches from the I-895 (N) split in east Baltimore City, to north of MD 43 in White Marsh.

Known during planning studies (2003 - 2005) as “JFK-Section 100,” the I-95 Improvements with Express Toll Lanes Project will ease congestion and increase safety by making improvements to I-95, reconstructing bridges and interchanges, and adding ETLs.

When completed, there will be two ETLs and four general-purpose lanes in each direction. Drivers traveling from north of MD 43 through to I-895 will have the choice of using the general-purpose lanes at no cost or paying a toll to use the ETLs.  In addition, ETL access for drivers traveling on MD 43 will be provided to and from the south along I-95. The tolls will be managed to maintain relatively congestion-free traffic flow. The toll for using the ETLs will vary depending on the time of day and amount of traffic on the road.

Biography:
David LaBella is the Major Programs Manager for the Maryland Transportation Authority. He is the Project Manager of the I-95 Express Toll LanesSM (ETLsSM) Project, as well as the MDTA’s System Preservation Program Manager.  Dave oversees the General Engineering Consultant as well as all design and construction operations of both programs, which total over $2 billion.  Dave has been with the Authority for 17 years. Prior to managing the ETLs and System Preservation Programs, he was the Manager of the Structures section at the MDTA, which included all projects relating to bridge/structures design, inspection, and rehabilitation.  Dave began his career working for 11 years at the Maryland State Highway Administration as a Senior Project Team Leader in the Bridge Inspection and Remedial Engineering Division.

Dave graduated from Clarkson University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland and Delaware and an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Highway Engineers, and the Maryland Association of Engineers.

The Woodlands Golf Course
2309 Ridge Road
Windsor Mill, MD 21244
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Registration Begins 8:00 a.m. - Shotgun starts 9:00 a.m.

Download Registration Information (PDF - 134KB)

GUEST TOUR 1:  Baltimore’s Trolley Tour

Thursday, May 28th
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm
The Tour starts in Inner Harbor - a short walk from the hotel.

Baltimore is a thriving city with an incredible history and the friendliest people around. So come along and join us on a Baltimore Trolley Tour of the Monumental City. Give us 90 minutes and our knowledgeable tour guides will show you a glimpse of our town. Sit back and journey along with us in a climate-controlled vehicle to the various sights and charm of a city of neighborhoods. Relive the quaint history of Fells Point, a national historic district; hear about the homes, businesses and lives of sailors, sea captains and immigrants in this 18th Century Maritime community. Discover the best places to find unique treasures. Enjoy the charm and beauty of the Carroll Mansion - J. Fava Cast Iron Building - The Shot Tower and Baltimore's picturesque architectural beauty - City Hall.
Our guides will make your Baltimore experience memorable in our fabled and romantic late 19th century neighborhood - Mt. Vernon. Not to brag, but the FIRST monument to George Washington was built in this neighborhood. In addition you'll see Victorian churches and mansions owned by railroad magnates and the city's elite.

GUEST TOUR 2:  B&O Railroad Museum Tour

Thursday, May 28th
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
A bus will transport you to the museum to start the tour.

The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum possesses the oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collections in the world. Dating from the beginning of American railroading, the collection contains locomotives and rolling stock, historic buildings, and small objects that document the impact of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) on the growth and development of early railroading and cover almost every aspect of an industry that left a permanent mark on the folklore and culture of America.

The Museum’s locomotive and rolling stock collection contains many unique examples of historically significant pieces from the B&O and other Maryland railroads and includes the finest collection of 19th century steam locomotives. The Museum’s roster of locomotives and rolling stock represent the first, last, best or only of their kind in existence today.

The small object collection covers almost every facet of railroading and includes clocks, pocket watches, textiles, lanterns, dining car china, silver, fine art, communication devices, signals, shop equipment, and an assortment tools and artifacts used on historic occasions such as the laying of the B&O’s ceremonial First Stone on July 4, 1828, which marked the beginning of construction of America’s first railroad.

Guided Tour - The War Came By Train Tour (1 hour):  The Civil War was the first major conflict where railroads played a prominent role, and the B&O was the major line that straddled a divided country. Between April 19, 1861 (The Baltimore Riot of 1861) and April 21, 1865 (Lincoln’s funeral train leaving Baltimore for Illinois), the B&O stood as witness and participant in the greatest conflict the United States has ever faced. The story that the B&O Railroad Museum can tell better than any other organization on earth is the story of how railroads and railroaders shaped the course of American history during at pivotal moments of the conflict.

GUEST TOUR 3:  Heritage Historic Fells Point Tour

Friday, May 29th
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
A bus will transport you to Fells Point to start the tour.

History runs throughout the cobblestone streets of Fell's Point. Founded in 1726 by William Fell, a shipbuilder from England, Fell's Point served as the city's deep-water port for over a century. Fell's Point is a spirited waterfront community in perpetual celebration of Baltimore's British nautical roots. 

The neighborhood's visage has remained largely unchanged since its founding and attracts many visitors. Explore the 18th- and 19th-century homes and storefronts - most were once one of the "three B's": boarding houses, brothels and bars. Chesapeake Bay cuisine is at its best here too, whether you crave oysters on the half shell at a local pub, or fresh seafood at an upscale restaurant. 

The area's residents were eyewitnesses to the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. Shipbuilders crafted impressive ships, including the young U.S. Navy's USS Constellation and the USS Enterprise. Frederick Douglass periodically resided as a slave in Fell's Point until 1838 when he fled bondage.

GUEST TOUR 4:  Ft. McHenry

Friday, May 29th
2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
A bus will transport you to Ft. McHenry to start the tour.

Fort McHenry is primarily known for the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, when American troops stopped a British invasion. The battle inspired Francis Scott Key to pen what would become the national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner” - originally entitled “Defense of Fort McHenry”.  During the Civil War, the fort served as a military prison. Another interesting fact: When a new flag is designed for use by the United States, it is first flown over Fort McHenry.   See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_McHenry for more history on the Fort.  

GUEST TOUR 5:  Babe Ruth Museum / Sports Legends Museum

Saturday, May 30th
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
A bus will transport you to the museum to start the tour.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum presents the life and times of George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Baltimore's native son who became America's first sports celebrity and an international icon.  It features the following exhibits: “Babe Batted Here”, “Babe: Husband, Father, Friend”, “Playing the Babe”, “The Star Spangled Banner in Sports”, “500 HR Club” and more

Sports Legends Museum at Camden Yards is the state's sports history headquarters. It features exhibits on the Baltimore Orioles, Colts, Ravens and Blast; Orioles Hall of Fame; Negro League teams; the Preakness; the Maryland State Athletic Hall of Fame; regional college athletics; Locker Room - Kids' Discovery Room; and more!