May 18, 2007

Random Commuter Observations

Sleepy Beth takes it to Dee Cee area traffic reporters.

Thank Heaven, my commute doesn't involve any major arteries like I-95, 66 or the 14th Street Bridge. Instead, I wend my way through the minor suburban feeders to the nearest metro station (about three or four miles off) and then ho! for downtown. Granted, this opens up a whole new can-o-rants, but I'll save those for other posts.

It's quite true that traffic has got measurably worse 'round here in recent years as the inner and outer suburban rings have boomed. However, compared with the commuting stories of friends I've had in the suburbs of, say, Noo Yawk, where a commute of 2 hours is no big deal, I must say that I sometimes think we NoVAnians had led something of a spoiled life heretofore.

Not that I like it, mind you. It usually takes me something in the neighborhood of an hour to wend my way in and I shudder to think about folks as far afield as, say Stafford or Ashburn and beyond.

One of my dreams is that some day when I go back into private practice I can bag a slot at a firm in Tyson's Corner. That would make my commute ten, fifteen minutes, tops.

The prospect is so wonderful that I'm almost afraid to even think about it.

Posted by Robert at May 18, 2007 08:45 AM | TrackBack
Comments

We have folks who commute from Fredericksburg to Alexandria - average commute time is 90 minutes to 2 hours one way.

We have folks who commute from Manassas and further west - average commute time is 90 minutes to 2 hours. I can attest to this from my days living in Bristow.

I also lived in South Riding on the eastern edge of Loudoun County - average commute time was 90 minutes and that was 3+ years ago. Ashburn would be close to 2 hours, I think. We have one guy coming in from as far as Purcellville and it takes him about 90 minutes to get here at 0-dark-30.

I will never live off of I-66 again as long as I live in NoVa. My 40 minute commute now is easy, but I know that some still think that's too long.

Posted by: jen at May 18, 2007 10:00 AM

I used to have a secretary who lived in Fred-Vegas and commuted (DROVE) downtown. I think she left her house about 4 in the morning.

We went through a stage a few years back of thinking we could live down there and I could come up on the VRE. I shudder at the idea now.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at May 18, 2007 11:09 AM

I commuted from Fred on the VRE to Crystal City for two years, and then to Tysons for six more. That drive up 95 & the beltway is nerve-wracking in the morning, close to unbearable in the PM.... On a good day, the ride up would take an hour, on a bad day - 2.5 hours....Fridays in the summer or a hoiday weekend were the worst...

Posted by: kmr at May 18, 2007 11:39 AM

I live 5 minutes away from Huntington Metro. It takes 45 minutes, more or less, to get to work. I have it easy.

:-)

Posted by: Stillers at May 19, 2007 02:26 AM