The Beltway is at a complete stand still

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

[Anonymous]

I'm really curious why folks didn't just turn around and take the outer loop and the Woodrow Wilson bridge? I think that would have taken less time instead of waiting for hours trying to cut through McLean and Arlington neighborhood streets to get onto the Chain Bridge or Key Bridge. A few years ago, I worked on a project in Suitland and managed to drive the entire circumference of the beltway a bunch of times. The outer loop didn't seem to be as bad as the inner loop but I didn't need to travel either on a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really curious why folks didn't just turn around and take the outer loop and the Woodrow Wilson bridge? I think that would have taken less time instead of waiting for hours trying to cut through McLean and Arlington neighborhood streets to get onto the Chain Bridge or Key Bridge. A few years ago, I worked on a project in Suitland and managed to drive the entire circumference of the beltway a bunch of times. The outer loop didn't seem to be as bad as the inner loop but I didn't need to travel either on a daily basis.

Or drive out to Point of Rocks. Gotta be clever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

Today, sure. But on any normal day it would take longer for at least one person from most locations. People are ignoring that today is far from the norm.

Density around metro is all well and good, but do you really think most places 1+ from metro stops are going to empty out? Or that it would be a good thing if they did?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

Today, sure. But on any normal day it would take longer for at least one person from most locations. People are ignoring that today is far from the norm.

Density around metro is all well and good, but do you really think most places 1+ from metro stops are going to empty out? Or that it would be a good thing if they did?

1+ mile from metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

Today, sure. But on any normal day it would take longer for at least one person from most locations. People are ignoring that today is far from the norm.

Density around metro is all well and good, but do you really think most places 1+ from metro stops are going to empty out? Or that it would be a good thing if they did?

In 40 years, I think most of those homes will be replaced with high rises. Millennials aren't keen on cars or traffic. Much easier to surf while on metro or a commuter train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really curious why folks didn't just turn around and take the outer loop and the Woodrow Wilson bridge? I think that would have taken less time instead of waiting for hours trying to cut through McLean and Arlington neighborhood streets to get onto the Chain Bridge or Key Bridge. A few years ago, I worked on a project in Suitland and managed to drive the entire circumference of the beltway a bunch of times. The outer loop didn't seem to be as bad as the inner loop but I didn't need to travel either on a daily basis.

Or drive out to Point of Rocks. Gotta be clever.

Yes, I work in Reston and live in Gaithersburg. I went up the Greenway and took back roads, went over a tiny bridge from VA into Frederick and was home in about 90 min. Google Maps was trying to get me to drive into the city then back out to MD (and claiming that would only be 90 min). Sounds like that would have been a nightmare!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really curious why folks didn't just turn around and take the outer loop and the Woodrow Wilson bridge? I think that would have taken less time instead of waiting for hours trying to cut through McLean and Arlington neighborhood streets to get onto the Chain Bridge or Key Bridge. A few years ago, I worked on a project in Suitland and managed to drive the entire circumference of the beltway a bunch of times. The outer loop didn't seem to be as bad as the inner loop but I didn't need to travel either on a daily basis.

Or drive out to Point of Rocks. Gotta be clever.

Yes, I work in Reston and live in Gaithersburg. I went up the Greenway and took back roads, went over a tiny bridge from VA into Frederick and was home in about 90 min. Google Maps was trying to get me to drive into the city then back out to MD (and claiming that would only be 90 min). Sounds like that would have been a nightmare!!

Followed google map’s 90 min route though chain bridge, left work at Herndon at 7, got home at11:30 in Rockville

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really curious why folks didn't just turn around and take the outer loop and the Woodrow Wilson bridge? I think that would have taken less time instead of waiting for hours trying to cut through McLean and Arlington neighborhood streets to get onto the Chain Bridge or Key Bridge. A few years ago, I worked on a project in Suitland and managed to drive the entire circumference of the beltway a bunch of times. The outer loop didn't seem to be as bad as the inner loop but I didn't need to travel either on a daily basis.

Or drive out to Point of Rocks. Gotta be clever.

Yes, I work in Reston and live in Gaithersburg. I went up the Greenway and took back roads, went over a tiny bridge from VA into Frederick and was home in about 90 min. Google Maps was trying to get me to drive into the city then back out to MD (and claiming that would only be 90 min). Sounds like that would have been a nightmare!!

Followed google map’s 90 min route though chain bridge, left work at Herndon at 7, got home at11:30 in Rockville

I'm so sorry! That is terrible.

I heard that there was an accident on Chain Bridge, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

We also live in MD. My spouse switches jobs every few years and changes between VA and MD so moving makes no sense. Saying use the metro and buses does not work if you do not live in walking distance to either nor is your job close to a metro station. Saying Rockville has metro or McLean means nothing in less you are right in that area. Metro is also expensive and there are ongoing safety issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone needs to refer to this thread on those endless threads in the real estate forum on why walkability and proximity to metro go for a premium. Traffic is the most unproductive time suck.

Or anytime someone posts a thread about how terrible metro is. I've been home for hours (and I live out near vienna)

Once every 10 years. Bfd

It is more than that and today's traffic is a similar anomaly.

People need to stop working in DC and push for more jobs in the burbs instead of living in shit shacks.

Aren’t al of these places people mentioning in the burbs?

Or, people need to live closer to their jobs in urban areas or walkable to metro and dump their cars all together. It's a healthier lifestyle than spending hours in traffic per day.

Except that isn't remotely realistic. You can't simply fit everyone who lives in the region walkable to the metro. Nor could everyone afford to live in many of those areas, regardless of space limitations.

Right — tell me how to make it work when I work in McLean and DH works in Rockville. How are we supposed to not use a car?

The reason that urban planners are emphasizing density near metro and walkability is that it makes more sense than having people waste their time in hours of traffic each day.
As for the PP, you don't say where you actually live. But McLean and Rockville both have metro stops. If you lived in downtown DC, you could metro to either place pretty easily.
Presumably that would have kept you from 4 hours on the beltway today.

We also live in MD. My spouse switches jobs every few years and changes between VA and MD so moving makes no sense. Saying use the metro and buses does not work if you do not live in walking distance to either nor is your job close to a metro station. Saying Rockville has metro or McLean means nothing in less you are right in that area. Metro is also expensive and there are ongoing safety issues.

Ok-enjoy the traffic jam then! By the way, the number of people who have died on metro is a tiny fraction of those who die in DMV area car crashes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This proves that MD drivers are the worst. A MD driver probably cut off the tanker and made it overturn.

I would bet a million dollars that this is what happened. Some little Toyota or Subaru cut him off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cycled home, as I do every night. Beautiful sunset, good exercise. I commend it to those who can make it work.

Are you a man or woman? I ask because when my work moved away from metro - but built no parking - they heavily pushed cycling. The women felt the (all male) bike enthusiasts did not grasp issues like safety in the dark, childcare pickup, and having to do hair and makeup in the office bathroom after a ride. I'm sure many women cycle to work but all the cyclists I know personally are bald dudes with grown kids.

I'm happy not to see anybody in this thread worrying about childcare or having a child in the car with them. I'm sure it happened - my kid used to commute with me and getting stuck like this was a fear.