Car parking is available under the Empire State Plaza in the Visitor Lot.  You can get to this lot by taking the Empire State Plaza Exit off I-787.  If people are parking under the plaza in this lot, there is a fee and the lots usually fill up fairly early.  In addition, the driver has to show photo ID to enter the parking lot.  There is a $2 per hour fee for parking in this lot. 

Further information, directions, and additional information on downtown parking lots can be obtained by visiting the NYS OGS web site:
http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/parking/forVisitor/visitor.html

A map of parking lots can be viewed by visiting:
http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/parking/forVisitor/parkingmap.html

Directions:

To get to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center use the following directions:

From the North:
Take Interstate I-87 (Northway) to Interstate I-90 East (exit # 1E). Take Interstate I-90 East to Interstate 787 South. Take Exit #3A for the Empire State Plaza.

From the South: 
Take New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) to Exit 23 - straight through Toll Booth to Interstate 787, then take Exit #3 for the Empire State Plaza.
 
From the East: 
Take Interstate 90 West to Exit # B1 (I-90). Continue on I-90 to Interstate 787 South. Follow I-787 South to Exit #3A for the Empire State Plaza.
 
From the West: 
Take the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) to Exit 24 (Albany), proceed east on Interstate 90 to Interstate 787 South. Take exit # 3A for the Empire State Plaza.

Parking is available here. Follow signs for North Visitor's Parking Area.

Elevators will take you to the Concourse Level where the Convention Center is located.

Once in the Concourse, follow signs for Meeting Room 6.

Map of the Empire State Plaza, Concourse Level

Parking information for Buses

In the past we experienced some substantial delays in people being able to depart from Albany as there were issues with getting the busses released from the parking provided by the Albany Police Department.  NYLA is not the only group conducting Lobby effort on 3/11 and therefore there will be many busses in downtown Albany.  APD provides parking for all the busses (for a fee) in Lincoln Park.  The busses are parked in such a manner that they can not simply pull out at any time, and with varying departure times, delays are inevitable.

In an effort to avoid a similar situation this year we are implementing the following:

When verifying the details with your bus operator and request that they send your bus and driver to Crossgates Mall for the duration of your visit in Albany.  There is plenty of free parking available in the parking lot of Crossgates Mall.  (Additionally this provides an activity for the driver between your drop-off and pick-up.)  It is a short 5.4 mile trip.  This will allow your bus to return to pick your group up when they wish, rather than when they are released by APD.  Parking in the downtown Albany area WILL NOT be available for the busses.

Direction from:
New York State Museum
Madison and State Streets
Cultural Education Center of the Empire State Plaza,
Albany, NY 12230

To:
Crossgates Mall
1 Crossgates Mall Rd
Albany, NY 12203
 
Travel 5.4 mi (about 14 mins)

1. Head northwest on Madison Ave/US-20 toward S Swan St 1.9 mi - 6 mins
 
2. Slight right at US-20 W 3.3 mi - 8 mins
 
3. Turn right at Crossgates Mall Rd 0.1 mi

4. Turn left to stay on Crossgates Mall Rd 299 ft

Cut & Paste into your favorite browser:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=Madison+and+State+sts,+Cultural+Education+Center+of+the+Empire+State+Plaza,+Albany,+NY+12230+(New+York+State+Museum)+%4042.649754,-73.762878&daddr=1+Crossgates+Mall+Road,+Albany,+NY+12203&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn

Map of the Empire State Plaza, Concourse Level:
http://www.nyla.org/content/user_1/Concourse_Map.pdf

Security Information:

Please plan for airport like security measures in place in the New York State Capitol, the Legislative Office Building and its surrounding buildings.  Please be prepared to pass through a metal detector and have your belongings go through an X-ray machine to enter.  All adults (16+) must show a photo ID to enter, it is recommended that attendees carry a photo ID at all times.  In addition, items that are sharp or may be construed as weapons are not allowed in any of the Empire State Plaza buildings.  (Including "sticks" attached to Rally signs.) 

Due to the security measures and the number of people expected in Albany on Lobby Day, please leave yourself plenty of time to travel between Meeting Room 6 and meetings with legislators.
 

If you have questions, please contact the NYLA Office at events@nyla.org.

Watch NYLA's on-line Membership Center, NYLINE and the NYLA web site for further Lobby Day details and information.