Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 21:35     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
If you can leave around 6:30 or so for work, the commute should be fine on 29 or 50. (It used to take me a reliable 35 minutes door-to-door from my home near Nutley/50 to 10th & Penn or 7th & Penn NW.) If you leave anytime near 7:00 or afterward, the commute will double. Metro is reliable - consider taking it from Vienna.

Depending on the cost of parking in your building, the metro cost might be about the same as driving, or less if you factor in mileage and gas at $4/gallon plus.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 21:15     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
Drive down Roberts Rd to the Burke VRE. You're in DC reliably in 40 mins every day, with a relaxing ride, a seat, and you can read or nap. No stress. Love it so so so much more than driving.

Or don't. Sucks for you, more seats for me.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 21:11     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
Anonymous wrote:can you link to the houses you saw? I saw some houses that I thought were really cute on franklymls this afternoon - wondering if any of the ones you looked at were the ones I liked online.

No worries, I just like to look - I'm not househunting in the area. Good luck, OP!
it

Nice try... I'm not falling for it
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 20:30     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
HOV makes a huge difference. I drop my kid at daycare on Little River Turnpike and then drive to basically the Verizon Center - it takes about 35 minutes and isn't bad at all. Down 495 to 395 N to 12th St. Not sure how it would be to get to McPherson Sq instead. But, if you're carpooling, 66 and 50 are not the only options.

Getting into and out of DC (over the bridge) are the worst parts. There is never traffic on the 395 HOV lanes or the beltway.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 19:41     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
can you link to the houses you saw? I saw some houses that I thought were really cute on franklymls this afternoon - wondering if any of the ones you looked at were the ones I liked online.

No worries, I just like to look - I'm not househunting in the area. Good luck, OP!
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 18:16     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
thanks so much for the guidance! DH and I looked at a couple very cute homes in Ffx City today---he just insists that this commute in unmanageable....Frankly, I don't think it would be much different than living in Falls Church but maybe I'm nuts....used to take me 45 minutes to get to McPherson Square from Sleepy Hollow/Lake Barcroft anyhow....
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 17:37     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
everything in this area is about timing - I get it.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 17:21     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
bus to the metro? Isn't that subsidized and slightly cheaper?


Bus would be cheaper and subsidized but unfortunately would add significantly more time to the commute. I have small kids at home, so that is not an option. I saw an ad for a commercial garage charging $65 at Dunn Loring and have considered doing that but, again, time is the biggest factor.

As I mentioned, the commute home admittedly is worse. If I leave by 4:45, it is about 45-55 minutes. If I leave after that, forget it -- I might as well stay at the office until 7.

A colleague lives in Burke and works late hours, usually 10:30 a.m. until about 7 or 7:30. He hops on 66 and says he is home in about 30 minutes. It depends on what hours work for you.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 16:58     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
Anonymous wrote:My work pays for parking, so I drive from Fairfax City to my office near McPherson Square. In the morning, I leave at about 6:55, take 50 East, and generally am at my desk by 7:30. The drive home is not so great; depending on the day, it can take 45 minutes to an hour, and I have to cut over to 29 or 236 at Falls Church to avoid the bottleneck where 495 and 50 intersect.

I used to take Metro from Vienna, and it was about 50 minutes door to door when it worked reliably. Unfortunately, the reliability declined, and parking is almost $5 per day. Even with my work subsidizing Metro itself (but not parking), driving is less expensive.

Hope this helps. We really love living in Fairfax City. Many days I do wish the commute were shorter, but we think it is worth this tradeoff.



What about your commute on the way home? That's when it gets tough, I think.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 16:16     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
Anonymous wrote:My work pays for parking, so I drive from Fairfax City to my office near McPherson Square. In the morning, I leave at about 6:55, take 50 East, and generally am at my desk by 7:30. The drive home is not so great; depending on the day, it can take 45 minutes to an hour, and I have to cut over to 29 or 236 at Falls Church to avoid the bottleneck where 495 and 50 intersect.

I used to take Metro from Vienna, and it was about 50 minutes door to door when it worked reliably. Unfortunately, the reliability declined, and parking is almost $5 per day. Even with my work subsidizing Metro itself (but not parking), driving is less expensive.

Hope this helps. We really love living in Fairfax City. Many days I do wish the commute were shorter, but we think it is worth this tradeoff.


what if you took a bus to the metro? Isn't that subsidized and slightly cheaper?

I'm not saying your way is wrong - if it works for you, good. Just asking the question, since I used to bus to metro and still would pick that option any day of the week over driving.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 16:07     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
My work pays for parking, so I drive from Fairfax City to my office near McPherson Square. In the morning, I leave at about 6:55, take 50 East, and generally am at my desk by 7:30. The drive home is not so great; depending on the day, it can take 45 minutes to an hour, and I have to cut over to 29 or 236 at Falls Church to avoid the bottleneck where 495 and 50 intersect.

I used to take Metro from Vienna, and it was about 50 minutes door to door when it worked reliably. Unfortunately, the reliability declined, and parking is almost $5 per day. Even with my work subsidizing Metro itself (but not parking), driving is less expensive.

Hope this helps. We really love living in Fairfax City. Many days I do wish the commute were shorter, but we think it is worth this tradeoff.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 15:14     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
DH rides bike to metro, metro to pentagon. Takes him about an hour - 20 mins on bike, 40 on metro. When he drove he went 50 all the way. 66 has too many choke points.
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 14:46     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
it isn't far to vienna. There are busses you can use.

why does everyone on these boards seem to insist on driving when there are public transportation options?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 13:51     Subject: Re:commute from fairfax city to DC
I drive to Burke Station, then take VRE to Crystal City. Maybe you can look at VRE?
Anonymous
Post 04/28/2013 13:07     Subject: commute from fairfax city to DC
exactly how bad is the commute from Fairfax City to McPherson Square? Are there viable options beside Route 66 and Route 50? If DH and I did that commute in an HOV lane is it any better? thanks in advance---lack of inventory in Arlington/Falls Church is forcing us to consider new options....