Rhode Island Department of Education
255 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-4600

How to Get Here By Car

I-95 North

Take exit 22A (downtown) which brings you into Providence close to the Providence Place Mall.  Stay in the right hand lane.  You will come to a traffic light.  Go right at the light onto Francis Street.  Take a right at the next light onto Exchange Terrace (the Westin Hotel will be on your right), where you will see signs for parking in North Garage or South Garage, both garages for the Rhode Island Convention Center. 

Routes 6, 10, and I-95 South

Take exit 22A (downtown), which brings you into Providence close to the Providence Place Mall.  You will come to a traffic light where you are not allowed to turn right.  Go straight (you are on Memorial Drive), and turn right at the next traffic light, onto Exchange Street.  You will come to a stop sign.  Turn right onto Exchange Terrace.  Go through the next light, just after which there is a fork with signs to parking in North Garage or South Garage, both garages for the Rhode Island Convention Center. 

Where to Park

Visitor parking and 24-hour security are provided at the Rhode Island Convention Center garage, about three blocks from the Shepard building. Please take a regular time-metered parking ticket from the second box at the entrance.

NOTE:  RIDE no longer validates parking.

Walking From the Garages to RIDE

The best walking route from the parking garage is by way of Mathewson Street. Upgraded recently, Mathewson Street has new sidewalks and plantings and is now brightly lit at night as part of the downtown revitalization project.

Map Copyright (c) 2006 google.com

For Persons with Disabilities

To Drop Off or Park

If you arrive by car from I-95 North, take exit 22A to the traffic light, which brings you into downtown Providence next to the Providence Place Mall.  Stay in the right hand lane and turn right onto Francis Street. Continue on Francis (past the turn for the parking garages on Exchange Terrace) as it turns into Dorrance Street until you reach Kennedy Plaza (2 blocks), the center of Providence. You will see the Biltmore Hotel on your right. Turn right immediately after the Biltmore onto Washington Street and go two blocks.  The Shepard Building is on the left hand corner of Washington  There are designated drop off parking spaces on Washington Street in front of the building.

If you arrive by car from Routes 6, 10, or I-95 South, take exit 22A, which brings you into downtown Providence next to the Providence Place Mall.  You will come to a traffic light where you are not allowed to turn right.  Go straight through the light (you are now on Memorial Drive), and turn right at the next traffic light, onto Exchange Street.  You will come to a stop sign.  Turn right onto Exchange Terrace.  As you approach the next light, the road goes straight and angles off to the left.  Take the left curve, which puts you on Dorrance Street, right in front of the Biltmore Hotel. Turn right immediately after the Biltmore onto Washington Street and go two blocks.  The Shepard Building is on the left hand corner of Washington and Union.  There are designated handicapped parking spaces on Washington Street and Union.

If no parking spaces are available, continue on Washington for two blocks and turn left on Snow Street.  Take your second left, go one block, and turn left again onto Mathewson Street. Go through a blinking light at the intersection of Westminster and Matheson, and the parking lot is on the right hand side immediately after the church.  Handicapped parking is free.

Important Note

The Commissioner's Office is now located on the 5th floor of the Shepard Building.

How to Get Here By Bus

Kennedy Plaza is the hub for all Rhode Island Public Transit Authority buses to and from downtown Providence. The Shepard building is a short walk, just two blocks up from City Hall at 255 Westminister Street.

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