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Old 09-30-2013, 10:07 PM
 
Location: Woodbridge, VA
85 posts, read 160,068 times
Reputation: 52

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I'm going to be making the dreaded commute to DC eventually from Lake Ridge, and I'd like to know which time window is better for driving on 95 in the morning. 5:30? 7? I will have options on start times for the job (7-3, 8-4, 9-5), so I was hoping to find the best window. I know I'll be spending well over an hour on the road, and it's not clear if there's a parking garage I could use yet. I may end up on the Metro. I've seen all of the public transportation options, and the only thing I'm unclear about is the driving aspect. Does it thin out around 8 or so now that everyone goes in earlier? TIA!
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Old 10-01-2013, 03:19 AM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,190,455 times
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If those are your options I would most certaily take the 7-3. I leave at 0400 but I drive on 66. Leave early and sit around enjoying a cup of coffee or check personal email.
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Old 10-01-2013, 03:22 AM
 
Location: Springfield
2,765 posts, read 8,308,668 times
Reputation: 1113
Use the driving time feature on Google Maps.
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Old 10-01-2013, 04:19 AM
 
Location: Central Virginia
6,530 posts, read 8,330,906 times
Reputation: 18634
Quote:
Originally Posted by luv2write79 View Post
I'm going to be making the dreaded commute to DC eventually from Lake Ridge, and I'd like to know which time window is better for driving on 95 in the morning. 5:30? 7? I will have options on start times for the job (7-3, 8-4, 9-5), so I was hoping to find the best window. I know I'll be spending well over an hour on the road, and it's not clear if there's a parking garage I could use yet. I may end up on the Metro. I've seen all of the public transportation options, and the only thing I'm unclear about is the driving aspect. Does it thin out around 8 or so now that everyone goes in earlier? TIA!
Definitely go with the 7-3 shift. You don't want to leave any later than 5:30am.

I leave LR around 6:15 (traffic is already heavy at this time), and it takes about an hour to get into Alexandria.

It doesn't thin out until around 9am. It's still pretty heavy around 8am.

Quote:
Originally Posted by VRE332 View Post
Use the driving time feature on Google Maps.
Those times aren't entirely accurate. My commute is 20-25 minutes longer than Google Maps suggests.
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Old 10-01-2013, 04:29 AM
 
12,905 posts, read 15,605,179 times
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I leave from the Dale City exit which is farther down from you. I leave my house at 5:15AM and am (was) at my desk at the Navy Yard at 6AM.

I think 5:30 will get you there before 7AM which is not a bad thing. Also, depends where you are going in DC and how for up Old Bridge Road you live. 5:30 is a really good time to leave.
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Old 10-01-2013, 07:10 AM
 
Location: Woodbridge, VA
85 posts, read 160,068 times
Reputation: 52
Thanks, everyone! I suspected the earlier shift might still be better, and for now it will work out well with the after-school care for my children. I live in Westridge, so I'm pretty far up Old Bridge.
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Old 10-01-2013, 09:03 AM
 
Location: DMV
10,125 posts, read 13,943,960 times
Reputation: 3222
Quote:
Originally Posted by luv2write79 View Post
Thanks, everyone! I suspected the earlier shift might still be better, and for now it will work out well with the after-school care for my children. I live in Westridge, so I'm pretty far up Old Bridge.
Yes and when you get close to 123 in the morning stay in the middle lane. Both turn lanes back up easily and you can get stuck there easily by being in the wrong lane. And in the afternoon get in the middle or right lane before Clipper Drive for the same reason.
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Old 10-01-2013, 09:10 AM
 
671 posts, read 1,114,476 times
Reputation: 765
Can she use the HOV before 6am(until the HOT lanes are done)
Also consider the slug lines. If you are going into the District you could pick up at the" Hechinger"lot at Old Bridge and Rt123. slug-lines.com
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Old 10-01-2013, 10:00 AM
 
12,905 posts, read 15,605,179 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemming95 View Post
Can she use the HOV before 6am(until the HOT lanes are done)
Also consider the slug lines. If you are going into the District you could pick up at the" Hechinger"lot at Old Bridge and Rt123. slug-lines.com
As long as she is out of them by 6AM. But at that time, the regular lanes are often moving better than the HOV lanes until you get to Springfield.
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Old 10-01-2013, 10:25 AM
 
687 posts, read 1,373,059 times
Reputation: 563
Instead of leaving your house at 5:30 am, how about picking up 2 slugs at the commuter lot and take the HOV lanes. You could then leave as late as 8:15 am. While some consider it a hassle to interact with strangers, I think that is less of a hassle then getting up at 4 am.

Or take the PRTC commuter bus. You can catch the bus after 8 am and still get into DC before 9 am.
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