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Adventures in Commuting
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He has been slugging it out on Interstate 95 for over 30 years. His first experiences involved driving into Washington D.C., crossing the 14th Street Bridge. Need I say more?
Later, he tackled the Capital Beltway into Maryland, north of the District and back south to Woodbridge - every day for close to 15 years.
These days, he expertly navigates the wondrous Mixing Bowl that is Springfield, Virginia and always looks forward to the baffling mysteries of driving Shirley Highway into Arlington.
For the past ten years, the remaining family members have endured the daily commute to and from work, using various methods of transportation, riding the rails into the bowels of the District, north to Tyson's Corner, east into Crystal City and the Pentagon and even south towards Quantico.
When possible, their preferred method of transportation is the Virginia Railway Express.
Yes, the routes may vary in distance and direction but one thing has remained the same...the duration of the commute and the resulting stress.
Heard of slug lines? It's a unique form of traveling to work but a popular one indeed! Check out driving options for the Woodbridge, Virginia area.
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Driving time around here is very unpredictable - unless you work from home!
There was a time when driving to Springfield Mall was a very doable...not just because it was close but the short 9 mile distance could be covered in a reasonable amount of time, unhampered by a relentless flow of traffic.
In other words, it did not require planning the drive to coincide with the light, non-rush hour traffic on Interstate 95.
Since then, the average length of time for the daily drive to work has increased from reasonable to downright ridiculous.
The traffic levels and the volume of cars have risen steadily over time, especially here in Woodbridge, and what was an obligatory part of living in the close-in suburbs - driving in to work - has become a stressful and potentially dangerous part of everyone's daily routine.
We often pity the poor traveler, just passing through, and unaware of the tactics required to extricate themselves from the Mixing Bowl, unaware of the required change of lanes as they hurtle towards what they believe to be the correct exit for all points north.
The Daily Drive
The morning trek from Woodbridge usually begins around 4:30 a.m. - Monday through Friday - and winds down close to 10 a.m.The afternoon "rush hour" back to Woodbridge - from most locations around the Capital Beltway - revs up around 2:30 p.m. and finally tappers off by 7:30 p.m.
All this without the added construction sites at various points along the road.
This wide window clearly illustrates the many different work schedules of our residents - from those of military personnel to comp time for contractors, the typical "9 to 5", and even "banker's hours".
It also demonstrates that Woodbridge is ideally located to act as the central hub for varying work destinations, which include downtown Washington D.C., Fort Belvoir, Bolling Air Force Base, Andrews Air Force Base, the Navy Yard, The Pentagon, and Quantico for military personnel.
Commuting - Keep Up To Date With PRTC
Rail Services
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Here is our commuting experience via the VRE.
The VRE from the Woodbridge Station at 1040 Express Way, in Woodbridge, Virginia 22191, takes about 40-50 minutes to reach the L'Enfant station (6th & 7th St. at C St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024) off Maryland Avenue in the District.
Add another 4-5 minutes to reach the Terminus at Union Station.
It's a great alternative to driving for your commute - you can relax, read a book, get a bit of work done, etc.
There's a toilet or two on the train, comfortable seats and a nice ride overall.
The only drawbacks are that it is not accurately timed as far as arrival times. The VRE does not have precedence over the CSX freight trains on the line, and therefore must wait for them to pass if, for some reason, there is a point where the trains would intercept each other.
If I had to commute to anywhere that is within walking distance of L'Enfant Plaza or Union Station, or just the Metro stations in those same locations, I'd take VRE over driving any day, as long as I didn't need to arrive at a specific time each day.
Then again, you could always arrive early.
Have A Great Story About This Topic?
Commuting is incredibly stressful!
With several veteran commuters under one roof, we've heard quite a few rants over the years but we've also discovered alternate routes!
This is your place to vent about your commuting experience, post a rant, or ask about potential commuting solutions for a specific route.
Share it with your fellow commuters!
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