Commute for job from Spotsylvania to 1400 K Street DC vs. Ballston Metro Stop, which is better? (Arlington: condo)

[va_lucky]

I live in Spotsylvania (on Massaponax Church Road), and work around 1400 k street in D.C.

I am looking at another job in Arlington which is right of the Ballston metro stop in Arlington.

The job in Ballston pays more, but the commute is only 5/10ths of a mile shorter.

I presently commute via VRE into DC.... It takes me 2 hrs and 20 minutes each way to K street.

Sometimes I have to commute further up in Northwest DC. Then it takes me 3hours each way.

My present job has inflexible hours of 0830-0530.

Sometimes overtime and/or weekend hours are required and I have to take a taxi home because the VRE doesn't run very late at all. (Thank you Guaranteed Ride Home Program). Still this is likely to happen more than the 4 times per year the program offers. Gotta love a $100 taxi ride home to earn 1 hour overtime.

I am just wondering if you have any thoughts on a commute to Ballston from Spotsylvania as opposed to the one I am doing now. Not sure if the new job has flexible hours, but parking is apparently....A BIG PLUS.

[Tone509]

Wow, you might be a candidate for the "Worst Commute" thread somewhere on here. I admire your determination to tough out a 5-hour daily commute.

To me, it's a quality of life issue. Would you be content with another inflexible schedule? Have you found ways to be productive or entertained during your commute? If the answer is yes, then go for the new gig; at least you'll have a raise for your troubles. If the answer is no then I guess, as they say, "the devil you know...."

Originally Posted by va_lucky

I live in Spotsylvania (on Massaponax Church Road), and work around 1400 k street in D.C.

I am looking at another job in Arlington which is right of the Ballston metro stop in Arlington.

The job in Ballston pays more, but the commute is only 5/10ths of a mile shorter.

I presently commute via VRE into DC.... It takes me 2 hrs and 20 minutes each way to K street.

Sometimes I have to commute further up in Northwest DC. Then it takes me 3hours each way.

My present job has inflexible hours of 0830-0530.

Sometimes overtime and/or weekend hours are required and I have to take a taxi home because the VRE doesn't run very late at all. (Thank you Guaranteed Ride Home Program). Still this is likely to happen more than the 4 times per year the program offers. Gotta love a $100 taxi ride home to earn 1 hour overtime.

I am just wondering if you have any thoughts on a commute to Ballston from Spotsylvania as opposed to the one I am doing now. Not sure if the new job has flexible hours, but parking is apparently....A BIG PLUS.

[va_lucky]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Wow, you might be a candidate for the "Worst Commute" thread somewhere on here. I admire your determination to tough out a 5-hour daily commute.

To me, it's a quality of life issue. Would you be content with another inflexible schedule? Have you found ways to be productive or entertained during your commute? If the answer is yes, then go for the new gig; at least you'll have a raise for your troubles. If the answer is no then I guess, as they say, "the devil you know...."

Lol, yes I rebutted the guy's claim for worst commute (VRE332).

I am stuck with my house in Spotsy until this thing turns, then you know where I am headed.

I just instant message for my entire commute home or sleep. Guess who? My wife.

VRE won't be as good of an option from what I can see anymore.

At my present job, I could commute to LaFant Plaza, then 7 more minutes down the orange line.

This looks more like 3 trains, but if they let me off earlier, then I could just drive it home for around the same price the VRE-TLC and trip to the Fredericksburg Station (around $400 per month with a beater that gets 42 mpg).

The only good thing about the train is that I can get some sleep on it.

The bad thing about the train is the amount of sick people on it.

My family has had 4 rounds of flu in 1.5 months because of the VRE/Metro.

I think I'd rather lose some sleep!

[Tone509]

Congrats(?) on winning the commute contest.

Well, I'm glad to see that you are considering moving closer to town once things settle down. I imagine chatting with your wife helps.

Yeah I suppose your commute will be slightly longer having to get off at King Street and heading up the Blue Line to Ballston. While I'm a mass transit advocate, I can see the benefits of saving time and money in your case by driving off-peak.

Four rounds of flu in less than 2 months??? Yikes!

Originally Posted by va_lucky

Lol, yes I rebutted the guy's claim for worst commute (VRE332).

I am stuck with my house in Spotsy until this thing turns, then you know where I am headed.

I just instant message for my entire commute home or sleep. Guess who? My wife.

VRE won't be as good of an option from what I can see anymore.

At my present job, I could commute to LaFant Plaza, then 7 more minutes down the orange line.

This looks more like 3 trains, but if they let me off earlier, then I could just drive it home for around the same price the VRE-TLC and trip to the Fredericksburg Station (around $400 per month with a beater that gets 42 mpg).

The only good thing about the train is that I can get some sleep on it.

The bad thing about the train is the amount of sick people on it.

My family has had 4 rounds of flu in 1.5 months because of the VRE/Metro.

I think I'd rather lose some sleep!

[va_lucky]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Congrats(?) on winning the commute contest.

Well, I'm glad to see that you are considering moving closer to town once things settle down. I imagine chatting with your wife helps.

Yeah I suppose your commute will be slightly longer having to get off at King Street and heading up the Blue Line to Ballston. While I'm a mass transit advocate, I can see the benefits of saving time and money in your case by driving off-peak.

Four rounds of flu in less than 2 months??? Yikes!

Lol, well I didn't get the job. It's K street forever, lollll!!!!

[VEIK]

K street is not bad.

Its a whole lot more exciting than Ballston with that crappy mall.

[Tone509]

Sorry to hear that, guy. I hope you get to shorten your commute in one direction or the other someday.

Originally Posted by va_lucky

Lol, well I didn't get the job. It's K street forever, lollll!!!!

[va_lucky]

lol, thanks all!

[springfieldva]

Have you considered buying a small condo closer in to use on days when you have to work longer hours? There may be some deals out there now.