New Job in McLean causing me to relocate (Arlington, Alexandria: apartment complex, to rent)

[Stevisah]

Hey guys,
I'll be relocating to McLean from Jersey. I was wondering how long of road trip would it be for me to U-Haul my things. I'm a little concerned about the going prices of a nice apartment and what public transportation is like. I don't own a car so I'd like to get an idea of how long it would take me to get to work every day. I'll be working for the CIA in McLean, not sure of the exact address yet. As for my apartment needs, I'm a single guy, but I don't want a studio. I've been living in a fairly large 1 bedroom here in Jersey and I'd like a nice size 1 bedroom out there. It doesn't have to be an apartment complex full of amenities. In other words how much bang can I get for around $1300 inside of McLean or how hard would it be for me to mass commute from a nearby city that would be a little more affordable. Thanks.


kinda concerned Stevisah

[mlv311]

There is no subway stop there, but you can get there by bus. It's also possible that they have a shuttle service from a metro (subway) stop for employees, but you'll have to inquire about that. If you are a federal employee, you may be entitled to a transportation subsidy (I think it's about $110 max/mth). I think you'll be able to find a one-bedroom for that price to rent. The prices go up the closer you are to DC and to a subway (metro) station. McLean, per se, is on the expensive side, but you have options close by.

Good luck,

Maggie

[claremarie]

I live near the CIA headquarters in McLean. It's not very easy to get to without a car, frankly. The CIA complex is surrounded by woods and expensive single-family neighborhoods. There are no apartment complexes nearby. The closest subway stations are about 5 miles away -- East Falls Church and West Falls Church. I have seen Metro buses pulling into and out of the CIA gate, but you'd have to check the Metro website to find out exactly what the routes are. Unfortunately, this part of northern Virginia does not have extensive bus service, and the vast majority of people commute by car.
There are lots of apartments for young single folks in the Tyson's Corner area, and even more in the Ballston and Clarendon neighborhoods in Arlington. With a car, you would be within an easy 15-20 minute commute to the CIA from either of these areas. Unless you can hop on a bus that goes directly to the CIA (which is unlikely), it will take you more than twice as long to commute by bus.
If getting a car is not an option, the agency should have information on the available bus service, which would give you a better idea on housing options. All federal agencies also have carpool and ride share information.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Stevisah

Hey guys, I'll be relocating to McLean from Jersey. I was wondering how long of road trip would it be for me to U-Haul my things.

In a u-haul, where you don't want to be doing 75 out there, you're looking (with say three stops) at maybe five-and-a-half hours from North Jersey if the traffic is okay, which it normally is. Subtract accordingly if you'll be coming from Central or South Jersey. I assume you've done it by car, so you know it's a fairly easy run until you get to the Washington Beltway. The run off I-95 over to Northern VA is very curvy and will be challenging in a u-haul even under the best of other circumstances. Take it easy (!) through that stretch and watch the signs for what lane you need to be in, especially as the I-270 cutoff approaches.

Originally Posted by Stevisah

I'm a little concerned about the going prices of a nice apartment and what public transportation is like. I don't own a car so I'd like to get an idea of how long it would take me to get to work every day. I'll be working for the CIA in McLean, not sure of the exact address yet. As for my apartment needs, I'm a single guy, but I don't want a studio. I've been living in a fairly large 1 bedroom here in Jersey and I'd like a nice size 1 bedroom out there. It doesn't have to be an apartment complex full of amenities. In other words how much bang can I get for around $1300 inside of McLean or how hard would it be for me to mass commute from a nearby city that would be a little more affordable. Thanks.

The CIA is not actually in McLean. It's in Langley at the intersection of Routes 123 and 193, or off the GW Parkway from the north side. McLean, Great Falls, and Falls Church are the towns closest to it. You will need to get a car. Without a car, you will die. Slowly and painfully. Rendition would be like a vacation in comparison to 'no car'. There is bus service (15K, 15L, and 23C) to the CIA but no trains for miles. If a car is really out, talk to your CIA guy about how awful the bus is, and then about how to get a car, or at least how to get access to agency carpool resources. As soon as you decide on a place (which without a car had better be right next door to a grocery store), get busy with those car or carpool arrangements. $1300 will otherwise get you a very decent, though perhaps not quite spiffy, place in the area, and once you acquire a car and if you're reasonably clever about it, you can get to Langley from any of the places named above in under 30 minutes. That doesn't count clearing in, parking, walking, then reaching your office, though, and that might add another 10-15 minutes, depending. There are other further-away areas you could also consider for an apartment if, say, you had a car. Vienna, Dunn Loring, and even far North Arlington would all be doable without killing yourself commuting if only you had a car. Did I mention that you will need to get a car???

Anyway, the CIA has changed a lot since that god-awful Goss came and went, but it still can be a unique, interesting, and very rewarding place to work, especially for those who have a car. I myself of course have no first-hand knowledge of the CIA at all, but if you had any other questions about your upcoming adventure, post away, and maybe I (and others) can extract some pertinent information from some neighbors and/or other contacts who do work at the CIA...

[ashbrn4]

Most people who work at the CIA do not live really close by because that area is very expensive. I live in Ashburn and have several neighbors who commute to CIA HQ. I know buses pass by, but not sure of the stops. Even if you take a bus to CIA, you still have to walk from the front gate as buses are not allowed through, only badged individuals who work there or expected visitors are allowed through. There are carpools though from all around the area. One of the resources available to you will be carpool info. They also should have sent you some info on relocating. My son just graduated from college in May and got a good job with a federal contractor as an engineer. He has a 2 bedroom he shares with a former college roomate, and it's $1600/month and that's in Kingstowne, (south Alexandria). Even one bedrooms are over $1500 for the most part. You might do better renting a room in a TH. There are other singles that do that where I work out in Fairfax County.

[saganista]

A little more detail re the bus situation...

The 15K and 15L both start at the GMU campus in Fairfax City and (with a little detour at Tysons Corner) just head down 123 to the CIA. They then split, taking either the GW Parkway (fast) or Military Road (slow) to get down to the Rosslyn Metro station.

The 23C basically starts in Shirlington. It stops at the Ballston Metro station, then heads up Glebe Road, comes into McLean on Old Dominion Drive, hangs a right onto Chain Bridge Road, then another right onto 123 to head down to the CIA, which is its northern terminus.

Without a car, one would have to live within walking distance of a stop along one of those routes, or within walking distance of a way to get to either Rosslyn or Ballston on the Metro, then transfer to the bus. As it's March and reasonable weather is about to return, the bus could be a workable short-term option, but very soon one would want to acquire a car -- any car -- and then you'd be stuck living somewhere that was determined by the need for access to a bus system you didn't use anymore. If there is any possible way to swing it, it would simply be a great deal easier to have a car to start out with. If there is no such way, you can get details on bus routes and schedules at www.wmata.com. My own recommendations would be...

1. Live near enough to a Metro station to get to Rosslyn in the morning, then take the 15K from there up the GW Parkway. That run is against the in-bound flow, and the bus actually makes the trip in under 15 minutes. There are six morning runs on this route, arriving at Langley between 6:25 and 8:30. Similar service the other way in the evening.

2. Look for a place along Glebe Road or Old Dominion Drive where you can catch the 23C. There are five morning runs on this route, and it's against the rush-hour flow much of the way. Arrivals at the CIA are between 6:20 and 8:20.

3. Look for a place along 123 where you can catch the 15L eastbound. There are a few places in Oakton and Vienna, as well as on the west side of Tysons Corner. Travel will be with the traffic, so it will be slower going. There are five morning runs, scheduled to arrive at Langley between 6:45 and 9:05.

All of these options will come with certain inconveniences, but they would at least be reasonably workable if options higher up the list were not available.