The Ultimate Rush - Rush Hour In Northern Virginia

If you are a resident you know the term "rush hour" is an oxymoron.  If you are relocating to the area you must have heard the National Capital Area is in the elite group of "Lousy Commuting Time Cities".  Don't plan an escape across the Potomac - according to local traffic reports Suburban Maryland has a similar problem - no worse, but probably no better.

However, there are options that make it more palatable if Prince William County is an area you are considering calling home.

A Ford two seater will work just fine if you are driving on I-66 - it is HOV-2 during posted rush hour times.  Try a two person carpool on I-95 and you may be delayed by a chit chat with one of our state troopers because I-95 is HOV-3.

It would be wiser and cheaper to leave that classic home and join a VANPOOL

Commuting by bus has been around ever since there have been cities. Oops - buses.  That jewel on the left is a 1912 Packard, but is not a POTOMAC AND RAPPAHANNOCK TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION commuter bus

Northbound commuter service to the Pentagon and Washington, DC is available from both the eastern and western sections of the county.  Additionally, there is bus service that connects with METRORAIL 

• Manassas and Linton Hall to the West Falls Church Metro
• Dumfries and Woodbridge to the Franconia-Springfield Metro

Don't snicker at that train on the left - in 1904 it broke the 100 MPH mark.  No, I wasn't there for the historic ride :)

Our current trains could probably equal or surpass that speed, but they stop too frequently to pick up commuters.

• The VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS actually operates two level trains over two routes

Manassas Line in the western side of the county and the Fredericksburg Line at the eastern side of the county

Manassas Line trains stop in Alexandria for transfer to METRORAIL while Fredericksburg Line trains stop at Franconia-Springfield to accommodate those passengers who require subway system service.

VRE trains make connections with the local bus systems of the City of Alexandria as well as Fairfax and Arlington Counties.  See VRE CONNECTIONS

There is no question the option at the right is one of the most affordable and viable.  It is called SLUGGING.  It is a highly sophisticated version of "hitching a ride" and the website above will explain it far better than I could.  Over the years, I have had numerous clients and friends shudder at the thought until they tried it.  My husband picked up slugs for years as he commuted to his northern office.

 The helicopter at the left is the "only way" to commute in the National Capital Area with no stress.  It operates between MCB Quantico, the White House, Andrews AFB and other area locations.  Unfortunately, it is not available to "regular people" 

Is there a reliable answer to how long a commute will take from any specific location?  The answer is yes only if the information is less than a few months old.  My husband will be the first to tell you that in the 16 years he commuted to his Northern Virginia office commuting times and patterns changed fairly frequently.  Whenever a new subdivision opened or a road improvement started all prior times were obsolete. He never comments on "what was".

We regularly question friends and clients as to their current commuting pattern and commuting time.  I can only give you a best estimate coupled with bus and rail timetables.  It is not at all unusual for our clients to "test the water" and try the commute time before they make an offer.

If you are considering relocating to and purchasing a home in Northern Virginia contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.