Quick commuter question, what would you do? (Centreville, Manassas: home, salary) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Subliminal_Spirit · 07-14-2011, 09:51 AM

I interviewed for a position that would put me in Centreville and Falls Church for the job. The hiring manager called me today to tell me that i'd be a better fit for the position in Fredericksburg va. I seriously just got back from NOVA on a 6am flight today so I was able to stall before an offer was given over the phone. If I plan on living in the Manassas/Bristow area would this be a decent option in terms of commute? To me (via google maps) it looks like Centreville (obviously) and Falls Church are a closer commute than Fredericksburg is but I'm not a local so what the heck do I know. What do you make of this? Please help me out

CaliTerp07 · 07-14-2011, 10:00 AM

If your job would be in Fredericksburg, why would you choose to live in Manassas? Unless there's another reason tying you to that area, I'd move closer to the job and strike the commute out of the equation.

Subliminal_Spirit · 07-14-2011, 10:08 AM

I agree that it may be easier to move closer to Fredericksburg however that is not the question at hand. Specifically, I am wanting to know what the lesser of two evils is. In this case is it a commute from Bristow to Fredericksburg, or Bristow to Centreville/Falls Church.

roninsedge · 07-14-2011, 10:35 AM

Bristow to Centreville/Falls Church is the better commute. Bristow to Fredericksburg is likely to have less traffic but is A LOT longer.

Subliminal_Spirit · 07-14-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roninsedge

Bristow to Centreville/Falls Church is the better commute. Bristow to Fredericksburg is likely to have less traffic but is A LOT longer.

Realistically what would you say the commute is time wise? Longer than 45 min? BTW thanks for your input. If I would have known this was an option I would have done a mock trip when I was out there interviewing the last few days but now I'm back home so go figure

OrangeFish · 07-14-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subliminal_Spirit

Realistically what would you say the commute is time wise? Longer than 45 min?

Yes -- about an hour one way on a good day.

roninsedge · 07-14-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subliminal_Spirit

Realistically what would you say the commute is time wise? Longer than 45 min? BTW thanks for your input. If I would have known this was an option I would have done a mock trip when I was out there interviewing the last few days but now I'm back home so go figure

Google maps says about 35 min. to Falls Church. I don't feel that this accurately takes the traffic on I-66 during rush hour into account. Google maps says that Bristow to Fredricksburg is about 1 hr.

I have no experience with these commutes at all. Hopefully someone on the boards can give you a more realistic estimate of the commute to Falls Church.

AmyinNOVA · 07-14-2011, 01:21 PM

Well, google maps does not factor in our traffic. Even if you go from Bristow to Falls Church you are gonna be sitting in TONS of traffic on 66 or 28 or 29 depending which way you go. Many years ago it was hip and cool to move out to Bristow and Manassas and Warrenton to commute into town so you could live cheaper and make a bigger salary.

Fast foward to today and everybody and their brother did that and now the traffic is just awful. I used to commute from Warrenton (this town is a bit farther down 29 than Bristow) to Vienna (this was over 5 years ago) and it took me a good 40 minutes with NO TRAFFIC.

Unless you could work really odd hours and go in like really early and leave really early...that is not a commute I would recommend either to falls church or fredericksburg.

HereinVA · 07-14-2011, 02:25 PM

I live in Bristow, but my FIL lives in Fredericksburg...and sometimes I drive down to Fredricksburg with the kids when we need a Sonic or Krispy Kreme fix

Depending on what part of Fredericksburg we go to, it usually takes about an hour, possibly a little less. We usually take Rt. 28 to Rt. 17. Rt. 28 is a one lane in each direction road, so that can slow things down a bit. It's a peaceful drive, through lots of farm land, but it is long. The good thing is, you'd be going against traffic. I dont' think it's a HUGE commute traffic, but I have seen some build up going north on the 28 in the morning and south in the late afternoon.

Subliminal_Spirit · 07-14-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HereinVA

I live in Bristow, but my FIL lives in Fredericksburg...and sometimes I drive down to Fredricksburg with the kids when we need a Sonic or Krispy Kreme fix

Depending on what part of Fredericksburg we go to, it usually takes about an hour, possibly a little less. We usually take Rt. 28 to Rt. 17. Rt. 28 is a one lane in each direction road, so that can slow things down a bit. It's a peaceful drive, through lots of farm land, but it is long. The good thing is, you'd be going against traffic. I dont' think it's a HUGE commute traffic, but I have seen some build up going north on the 28 in the morning and south in the late afternoon.

Thanks for a realistic answer. The hiring manager was really trying to sell me on this idea and when I told her well I'll be living in the Bristow/Manassas area her response was, "That's great, this commute would be much better and faster for you."

Not that I'm a NOVA expert but I've seen a map before and it looked like a hike. I really have no idea what to do now LOL my guess is I'm best off looking for a position in the NOVA area if I plan on working there as opposed to an hr or so South back to sending out resumes I guess...