Working on opposite ends of the beltway — where to live?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| I agree with Rockville/Bethesda as close to Beltway as possible. Avoid 270 if you can. |
Anonymous
|
Why on earth would they live in Rockville? Why have two brutal commutes when you only have to have one?
One option would be SW, the wharf or one of the nice blocks, and you both commute from l’enfant plaza. That would work if both jobs are near metro. If you think you’re going to have kids with these jobs, I would think about who is going to be the default parent and live there. One local, one long commute. I don’t know as much about Tyson’s and I don’t know your budget but there are plenty of good options around college park. |
Anonymous
| Silver Spring? |
Anonymous
| An apartment on 16th Street. |
Anonymous
|
One spouse takes the hit - live in Tysons.
Better schools in VA with kids in plan. |
Anonymous
| Which specific job is right on top of metro transit? Live on the opposite side of the river near metro (DC or Arlington) to make it easier for the person who has to drive every day. The other person uses the trains. The worse part of the driving commute is crossing the Potomac bridges so try to avoid that. |
Anonymous
This. Figure out the person with work closest to the metro then figure out locations to live that are walkable to metro, ideally without transfers for that person. From those, look for the shortest drive for the other person. ChatGPT and probably help. Don’t move to Rockville. That will suck for you both. I say this as someone who lives in Rockville a commutes to Virginia a couple days a week and who gets grumpy whenever I need to go to College Park for something. I’m much happier when I get home on days I take the metro - but then, I’m far enough out to typically get a seat and be able to relax on the train. Something else to consider. You might also consider being closer to somewhere the other spouse has good job prospects as all the commuting will get old quick, especially if it’s 5 days/wk |
Anonymous
+1. Crossing any bridge twice a day during rush hour would be awful. |
Anonymous
|
A circle has no end, OP. Issac Asimov would be very disappointed in you.
[Yes, I know there are about 12 people who will get that reference.] |
Anonymous
This. Is either job close to metro or at least one has flexibility? Then could live close to metro center and commute by metro. College park is green line and Tyson’s is silver line, so could also consider living close to one of these stations for the person commuting by subway and the other drives. Check also commutes cause the beltway traffic while bad both ways, maybe slightly better one way (Tyson’s to college park) than the other. So could also consider living not 100% midway, but closer to Tyson’s and the other person would commute. It really depends on specific addresses cause that makes a big difference. |
Anonymous
| There’s no way to make both people driving workable, honestly. Either one person lives close to work or both people use transit. The latter will work while there are no kids, in SW. with kids, someone needs to work close to home/daycare/school. |
Anonymous
Sir you forget you’re on dcum. OP, even robots cannot do themselves harm. Why inflict this torture on you and your family? Metrocenter is the station that puts you in the middle with 40 minutes each commute, no transfers. This works only if you are close to the metro stations. You’ll be near lots of restaurants, buying you time before you have kids and can find a job that’s closer. |
Anonymous
+1 Came to say this. Consider a nanny or new job if you decide to have kids. Daycare hours do not match with beltway traffic hours. BTDT |
Anonymous
|
New job. This cannot be done without hellish commutes.
This is what the purple line will solve in 20-30 years when it goes from Bethesda to Tysons. Until then...no. |
Anonymous
|
Consider downtown Bethesda or Takoma Park DC or Md. Commute to College Park could be via the brand new Purple Line light rail when that finally opens in 2028. Tysons would've viathe Beltway. Takoma Park on the DC or Md side is walkable to lots of trendy and fun cafes and boutiques. Metro Red Line has a stop in the center of the neighborhood.
|