How is Commute from South Riding to DC (Reston, Chantilly: how much, new house)

[ken_rgr]

We are planning to buy a new house in South Riding(Toll Brothers community). Both me and my wife works in DC.
We are new to Virginia (we moved from NY to VA in Jul'2011 in search for
a Brand new dream home). We heard that commute to DC is difficult from South
Riding. We heard mixed opinions from different people.
How much time it will take if we take a Bus?
I heard that there is a Bus that takes Toll Road which takes approximately
one hour to reach DC.
Appreciate any suggestions.

Thank You

[newnewsmama]

Route 50 is very congested. But it is being widened. So hopefully the traffic will improve a little. Going to DC, every town in Loudoun will be brutal. If you don't mind paying the toll on Greenway, Ashburn will have better commute than South Riding.

[cdmurphy]

Here is the bus schedule and info (http://inter4.loudoun.gov/controls/speerio/resources/RenderContent.aspx?data=d6b61b64e92e41ef8221f9fd41 210ce8&tabid=333 - broken link) for the Loudoun Commuter Bus from Dulles South.

[SmartMoney]

This is a very exhausting trip...a real killer. If you are okay with heading out at 5:30AM and not getting back some nights 12 hours later. Kids? Going to be a challenge if your jobs don't allow for telecommuting. I'm a native and still here, I love the area, not a transplant and not angry with my choice for moving here (we have a lot of those). You don't say if you are civil service or private industry......and the good news for both careers, there are plenty of other opportunities after you've done your time (or what is expected from you after your relo).

I'm not trying to be a downer, but traffic in the DC area is beyond - freaking, beyond - predictable. Don't get a sense of false assuredness if you arrive in summer. The Tuesday after Labor Day is pure torture. Next would be the first Monday after Daylight Savings Time, followed by any Friday on a 3 day weekend, not to be out-done with any day that has snow predicted as a possibility. If you can handle the unpredictable, appreciate challenges without getting stressed, you'll do fine. Be prepared for the worse and be happy with better.

[ken_rgr]

Thank you guys for your valuable suggestions.
HI Cdmurphy -- Thank you for the Bus Schedule.
I have few questions about the Bus schedule. I didn't understand the Bus schedule properly.
It seems there are only 2 Buses after 8 am (8 and 8.30). Is there any Bus that stops at
Pentagon Metro station after 8?
I appreciate your time

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by ken_rgr

Thank you guys for your valuable suggestions.
HI Cdmurphy -- Thank you for the Bus Schedule.
I have few questions about the Bus schedule. I didn't understand the Bus schedule properly.
It seems there are only 2 Buses after 8 am (8 and 8.30). Is there any Bus that stops at
Pentagon Metro station after 8?
I appreciate your time

I think you'd have to take one of the later buses to Rosslyn, then Metro to Pentagon.

Alternately, you could drive to the Dulles North Transit Center and take the bus from there. There is a 7:40 bus that gets to the Pentagon at 8:39. Here is a combined schedule (http://va-loudouncounty.civicplus.com/documents/49/2560/2561/2579/2581/DN,%20DS,%20CFC,%20AN%20April%2023,%202012_2012041 11359499058.pdf - broken link). All of the bus info is at http://www.loudoun.gov/bus/ (broken link)

[Darkseid]

@ ken_rgr

I couldn't imagine driving into DC from South Riding every day. It is quite a challenge just to get to I-66 from there. It is a very beautiful area but personally, I wouldn't suggest a person living out there if they had to go into DC to work every day. (Perhaps I am saying that because I rarely go into DC)

Obviously I don't know you all's situation, but if you haven't closed on the home, then I would go as far as to suggest looking for something closer to DC. The commute is THAT crazy - even on a bus

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Darkseid

@ ken_rgr

I couldn't imagine driving into DC from South Riding every day. It is quite a challenge just to get to I-66 from there.

Don't EVER go near 66. The commuter bus is a good idea, but if you drive, the Toll Road is the way to go. Not sure where you are headed in DC, so I can't give you an accurate prediction, but this commute will be over an hour, on the good days.

[jcnycarch]

I have a friend that commutes from S. Riding to DC (Georgetown). The key is to time getting access to 66 (after the beltway) right after the HOV opens, so this means a later commute. He budgets 90 mins, sometimes faster, sometimes slower.

[hilsmom]

what about driving to one of the Fairfax Connector lots just over the line in Chantilly? That might at least save you from driving the whole way. I haven't tried them from the Rt 50/66 corridor yet, but I used to take them from the park and ride lots in Reston and Herndon and I much preferred that to driving myself.