Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) Center - Houston
Amegy Bank Building, 7th Floor
400 North Sam Houston Parkway, Suite 700
Houston, TX 77060 USA
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS)
Travel Information for Houston
Travel and Transportation
The Houston Clinical Skills Evaluation Collaboration (CSEC) Center is located approximately 8 miles southwest of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and approximately 27 miles northwest of William P. Hobby Airport .
By Air
Houston is served by Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport. Bush Intercontinental Airport offers nonstop service to and from 152 cities around the world, and Hobby Airport offers nonstop or direct service to over 65 U.S. cities. For more information, visit the Houston Airport System website at www.fly2houston.com.
Airport Shuttle Service
SuperShuttle offers shuttle service to and from Bush Intercontinental and Hobby Airports and most Houston hotels. Ticket counters are located in the lower level baggage claim areas of Terminals A and C of Bush Intercontinental, and in the lower level baggage claim area of Hobby Airport. For more information, call (713) 523-8888 or visit the SuperShuttle website at www.supershuttle.com.
Most hotels near the CSEC center offer free shuttle service to and from Bush Intercontinental Airport. Contact the individual hotels for details.
By Bus
The Houston Greyhound bus station is located at 2121 Main Street. Taxis are readily available outside the terminal, and the ride to the CSEC center will take approximately 20-25 minutes. For more information, call (800) 231-2222 or visit www.greyhound.com.
By Train
Houston is served by Amtrak's Sunset Limited line, which runs between Orlando, Florida and Los Angeles, California. The Houston Amtrak station, located at 902 Washington Avenue, is approximately 15 miles from the CSEC center. Taxis are available outside the terminal. For more information, call (800) 872-7245 or visit www.amtrak.com.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed through Ground Transportation employees outside each terminal of Bush Intercontinental Airport and at Curbzone 1 outside of the lower level baggage claim area of Hobby Airport . All destinations within Houston's city limits to/from Bush Intercontinental are charged according to the flat zone rate or the meter rate, whichever is less. For more information on zone rates, visit www.fly2houston.com and click on "Ground Transportation."
| Liberty Cab Company | (713) 695-6700 |
| Square Deal Cab Company | (713) 659-5105 |
| United Cab Company | (713) 699-0000 |
| Yellow Cab | (713) 236-1111 |
Public Transportation
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) offers local and commuter bus service. Local buses serve mostly city streets, stopping at every other corner along their routes. Almost all local routes are identified with one- and two-digit numbers. One-way adult fare for local service is $1.00, or you can buy a $2.00 Day Pass that allows unlimited use of local service for 24 hours from time of purchase. METRO offers weekday commuter service for commuters headed downtown and to other business districts. Commuter routes are numbered between 100-299. There are four commuter fare zones, based on the distance traveled from origin to destination.
METRO's inaugural rail line, the METRORail red line, spans 7.5 miles and services 16 stations located in and around Houston's busiest activity centers. The cost of a one-way fare on METRORail is $1.00. Tickets may be purchased from Ticket Vending Machines located at each station. For more information on METRO bus and rail services, visit www.ridemetro.org or call (713) 635-4000.
Public Transportation for Individuals With Disabilities
Passengers with disabilities may board METRO buses at any stop that has the international wheelchair access symbol posted. Lift-equipped buses display the international access symbol to the left of the door that has the lift. While operators are available to help passengers board the bus, passengers who require assistance are encouraged to bring an attendant, as attendants ride for free. Designated seating is available for wheelchair users.
Car Rental
Bush Intercontinental Airport is serviced by the major rental car companies from a central location at the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, located on the east side of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, less than 5 minutes from the terminals. A common shuttle system is shared by all rental car companies. Follow the Rental Car signs at your arriving terminal and look for the white and maroon buses marked "Rental Car Shuttle." For more information on the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, visit www.iahrac.com.
| Advantage | (800) 777-5500 | www.arac.com |
| Alamo | (800) 462-5266 | www.alamo.com |
| Avis | (800) 230-4898 | www.avis.com |
| Budget | (800) 527-0700 | www.budget.com |
| Dollar | (800) 800-3665 | www.dollar.com |
| Enterprise | (800) 261-7331 | www.enterprise.com |
| Hertz | (800) 654-3131 | www.hertz.com |
| National | (800) 227-7368 | www.nationalcar.com |
| Thrifty | (800) 847-4389 | www.thrifty.com |
Driving Directions to the CSEC Center
The Houston CSEC center is located at the intersection of Imperial Valley Drive and the Beltway 8 East access road. The building number "400" on top of the building is clearly visible from either road. Beltway 8 is also known as North Sam Houston Parkway and the North Belt.
FROM BUSH INTERCONTINENTAL AIRPORT Proceed east on Terminal Road toward the airport exit. Turn slight right onto John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Take the Beltway 8 West ramp toward I-45. Proceed on Beltway 8 West for approximately 3 miles and take the exit toward Imperial Valley Drive. Turn left onto Imperial Valley Drive and cross under all lanes of Beltway 8. Continue on Imperial Valley Drive a short distance and turn left into the parking garage at 400 North Sam Houston Parkway.
FROM I-45 NORTH OF HOUSTON Take I-45 South toward Houston to Aldine Bender Road (exit 60A). Proceed for two traffic lights and make a left onto the access road for Beltway 8 East. Continue on the access road (approximately 0.5 mile) to Imperial Valley Drive. Make a right onto Imperial Valley Drive and turn left into the parking garage at 400 North Sam Houston Parkway.
FROM I-10 WEST OF HOUSTON Take I-10 East to I-45 North. Proceed on I-45 North to Aldine Bender Road (exit 60A). From Aldine Bender Road, turn left onto Imperial Valley Drive. The entrance to the parking garage at 400 North Sam Houston Parkway is on the right, just before the intersection of Imperial Valley Drive and the Beltway 8 access road.
FROM I-10 EAST OF HOUSTON Take I-10 West to I-45 North. Proceed on I-45 North to Aldine Bender Road (exit 60A). From Aldine Bender Road, turn left onto Imperial Valley Drive. The entrance to the parking garage at 400 North Sam Houston Parkway is on the right, just before the intersection of Imperial Valley Drive and the Beltway 8 access road.
FROM US-77 SOUTH OF HOUSTON Take US-77 North. Take Spur 91 toward Houston. Spur 91 becomes US-59 North. Take US-59 North to I-610 North. Merge onto I-45 North / US-75 North via exit 17B (on the left) toward Dallas. Take I-45 North to Aldine Bender Road (exit 60A). From Aldine Bender Road, turn left onto Imperial Valley Drive . The entrance to the parking garage at 400 North Sam Houston Parkway is on the right, just before the intersection of Imperial Valley Drive and the Beltway 8 access road.
Parking Near the CSEC Center
Free visitor parking is available on the first floor of the parking garage at the Houston CSEC center.
Lodging Near the CSEC Center
| Houston Marriott North at Greenspoint ($$$) 255 North Sam Houston Parkway East (0.4 miles from the center) |
(281) 875-4000 www.marriott.com |
| *Baymont Inn & Suites ($) 502 North Sam Houston Parkway (1.5 miles from the center) |
(281) 931-0101 www.baymontinns.com |
| *Days Hotel ($) 500 North Sam Houston Parkway East (1.5 miles from the center) |
(281) 931-0101 www.daysinn.com |
| *Hilton Houston North ($$) 12400 Greenspoint Drive (1.7 miles from the center) |
(281) 875-2222 www.hiltonhoustonhotel.com |
| *Holiday Inn Houston Intercontinental Airport ($) 15222 JFK Boulevard (4.3 miles from the center) |
(281) 876-3888 Holiday Inn |
| *Sheraton North Houston Hotel at Bush Intercontinental Airport ($) 15700 JFK Boulevard (4.5 miles from the center) |
(281) 442-5100 Sheraton |
$ ratings are based on published rates.
Establishments marked with an asterisk (*) offer discounts for Step 2 CS examinees, based on availability. Since these discounts may only be available by telephone, it is recommended that you call these establishments to make your reservations. Ask about the discount for individuals taking the Clinical Skills exam at the local testing center.
Local Hospitals
Houston Community Hospital
(713) 697-7777
2807 Little York Road
(7.2 miles from the center)
Houston Northwest Medical Center
(281) 440-1000
710 FM 1960 West
(9.0 miles from the center)
Important Telephone Numbers
| Police, Fire, and Medical Emergencies | 911 |
| Accidental Poisoning | (713) 654-1701 |
| Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities | (713) 837-9041 |
| Traveler's Aid Society | (972) 574-4420 |
For Emergencies on Your Test Date
The CSEC centers are test administration facilities and are not equipped to handle routine inquiries. However, in the event of a real emergency on your test date, you may call (281) 260-8751 to contact a Houston CSEC staff member during test administration hours. Please keep in mind that CSEC staff members cannot answer inquiries related to registration, scheduling, rescheduling, or general inquiries about the exam. For information on these topics, refer to the website of your registration entity.
Other Travel Resources
The following websites may prove useful in planning your trip to Chicago:
www.aaa.com
www.expedia.com
www.hotels.com
www.hotwire.com
www.mapquest.com
www.orbitz.com
www.priceline.com
www.travelocity.com
Additional Information
For more information on Houston, contact the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau at (713) 437-5200 or visit visithoustontexas.com.
If you will be traveling to the United States to take the exam, refer to Additional Travel Information for Examinees Traveling to the United States to Take Step 2 CS for Houston.
The information in this guide is provided solely as a convenience for applicants. It is neither a recommendation nor an endorsement. ECFMG® and NBME® receive no benefit from your use of the service providers listed, and assume no responsibility or liability for your use of these services or establishments, or for any problems encountered. All information is subject to change. You should verify all information related to travel and lodging prior to departure.
Rev. May 28, 2009