For Those In the DMV - Will the Commute Get Better or Worse in the Fall???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With metro trains on sone lines running every 20 minutes, folks say, no thanks, gimme my car.

Yeah but that’s going to change. More trains will be running by the end of the summer and starting Monday the wait times will be shorter on certain lines. That being said with the move to return to work in person I see it getting worse.

I dunno, metro has hundreds of drivers with lapsed certification. Maybe they'll be able to leverage the 7000s being out of service to get drivers recertified but I don't have a lot of faith in their ability to execute on stated plans. On the bright side, at least Metro isn't on fire.

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/hundreds-of-metro-operators-need-to-be-recertified-green-yellow-line-trains-to-see-delays/3052136/

[Anonymous]

Wondering if gas prices will dissuade enough people from driving and return to public transportation to make a significant difference and reduce traffic. I for one am considering to park my car even if it takes me longer to get to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It will be worse. Most of us in my office have permanently fled Metro since the pandemic. We don’t get free metro money and our employer provides parking for a reasonable rate so we just drive.

This. Pandemic has turned us into LA or Atlanta.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if gas prices will dissuade enough people from driving and return to public transportation to make a significant difference and reduce traffic. I for one am considering to park my car even if it takes me longer to get to work.

once traffic comes back, the metro will look better for some. We are not nearly at that level. The primary roads are filling up, but the secondary and tertiary road are still relatively quiet. I think, there will be come lasting WFH options so that the full on traffic will not come back to 2019 levels for several years as the population increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way[b] . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I'm really surprised by this. I take almost the same route as you- from Rockville to two blocks from Penn Avenue down 270. It has never taken me more than an hour, and I average 35 minutes in the morning.
I wonder what times you are on the road and whether you are taking a really odd route downtown once you get off 270?

'

I'm leaving around 8:30 a.m. and coming back home around 4:30. You must have really different hours than core business hours. Are you a stripper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way[b] . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I'm really surprised by this. I take almost the same route as you- from Rockville to two blocks from Penn Avenue down 270. It has never taken me more than an hour, and I average 35 minutes in the morning.
I wonder what times you are on the road and whether you are taking a really odd route downtown once you get off 270?

'

I'm leaving around 8:30 a.m. and coming back home around 4:30. You must have really different hours than core business hours. Are you a stripper?

What is wrong with you? It is very common for professionals to leave the house at 7am or earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way[b] . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I'm really surprised by this. I take almost the same route as you- from Rockville to two blocks from Penn Avenue down 270. It has never taken me more than an hour, and I average 35 minutes in the morning.
I wonder what times you are on the road and whether you are taking a really odd route downtown once you get off 270?

'

I'm leaving around 8:30 a.m. and coming back home around 4:30. You must have really different hours than core business hours. Are you a stripper?

What is wrong with you? It is very common for professionals to leave the house at 7am or earlier.

Also, do you only work for six hours? Are you a stripper?

(8:30am, 2 hour drive, work six hours, perhaps take a lunch, 4:30)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way[b] . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I'm really surprised by this. I take almost the same route as you- from Rockville to two blocks from Penn Avenue down 270. It has never taken me more than an hour, and I average 35 minutes in the morning.
I wonder what times you are on the road and whether you are taking a really odd route downtown once you get off 270?

'

I'm leaving around 8:30 a.m. and coming back home around 4:30. You must have really different hours than core business hours. Are you a stripper?

Wow. PP here. That seems like a rude/aggressive response.

And the hours you give put you in the office between 10-10:30. I would think that is a more unusual start time than say, 8:00.

[Anonymous]

The Tuesday after Labor Day is going to be HELL again.

[Anonymous]

It always gets worse. School buses, fewer vacations, and I don't think people are eager to get back on crumbling public transit. Some offices will reopen adding to the volume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way[b] . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I'm really surprised by this. I take almost the same route as you- from Rockville to two blocks from Penn Avenue down 270. It has never taken me more than an hour, and I average 35 minutes in the morning.
I wonder what times you are on the road and whether you are taking a really odd route downtown once you get off 270?

'

I'm leaving around 8:30 a.m. and coming back home around 4:30. You must have really different hours than core business hours. Are you a stripper?

FWIW leaving 30 mins or much earlier can drastically reduce your commute time. I’d leave by 7:30. I’m not sure what the sweet spot is for that route though.

[Anonymous]

It will be worse. I have been driving from Columbia to DC the entire pandemic (healthcare) and it has just steadily gotten worse and worse. I am now back to pre-pandemic commuting times. I have been making this commute for 16y and summers are better (except Friday afternoons!) but I really miss everyone working from home.

[Anonymous]

The traffic is definitely picking up again. I commute from the VA beltway line to K street. It's noticeable. Much more traffic now. Tuesday-Thursday are very heavy, not totally back to pre-pandemic but close. Monday and Friday are still lighter with people working from home those days. I miss the easy commutes of the pandemic but it will be great to see the city filling up again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would explore the Frederick job and related commute a bit more. I am now fully WFH, but pre-pandemic I used to have a commute against traffic (MoCo to Columbia) and it obviously makes a huge difference. It would take me the same amount of time to go 30 miles as it did to go 8 miles to my previous job in DC. I don’t know if commuting up 270 would be strictly against traffic, especially near Urbana and nearing Frederick, but something to think about.

Thanks - I actually tested out the Frederick commute a couple of times last week during morning rush hour and it was about 30 minutes, even with a little more traffic as I neared Urbana. The job I'm considering is right off of the exit. In comparison, last Tuesday, my commute to/from D.C. took me close to two hours each way . I think with all of the work from home opportunities, many people are using Monday to work from home so there is a ton of traffic for those people who go in Tuesday. After two years of working from home, it was extremely frustrating and such a time suck.

I think you have your answer. Nobody ever sat in a chair at the old folks home and wished they had spent more time driving back and forth to work.

[Anonymous]

Assuming that they finish the refurb of the TR bridge, it should get better than it is today (but not as good as 2021)