Metro or VRE Gainesville to DC?? (Vienna, Falls Church: HOA, house, transfer to)

[conanicut]

I am thinking about commuting from Gainesville, VA to DC (Union Station) and was wondering about my options. When does the Broad Run parking lot become unmanageable? As in, parking on the street as opposed to a real parking spot?

Also, how bad is the drive from the Gateway Center area to the Vienna metro? If you have a reserved spot does that mean you will be guaranteed a spot?

Any suggestions?

[barryhussein]

Take the gas pipe, instead. It will be a lot less painless, and surely quicker.

[conanicut]

Are you suggesting I drive? I can't do that I don't have the patience for the traffic. Wouldn't the drive take 1.5 hours? TrAin might be slightly longer but at least I can read.

[novahousehunter]

When I go to DC from Gainesville I usually drive to metro.

VRE is "nicer" but schedule is more restricted (not just trains every 5 min in rush hour) and since I am not the union station stop I then have to transfer to the metro when I get to DC anyway.

It can take between 45 - 1 hr to drive to Vienna in traffic (under 30 without), another 45 or so to Union Station once your train gets going. Metro parking gets out of control too, especially as you approach 10 a.m--it can be really hard to find a spot. The reserved spots are guaranteed until 10, then after that they open up to the public.

Driving to DC is difficult when the HOA restrictions are in effect on I66--you have to bail off at the beltway and work your way in on 29/50, or take the beltway and then cut into DC. I might consider it if I had guaranteed inexpensive parking down there, otherwise DC parking is just another hassle/expense.

[conanicut]

Thanks for your reply! How bad is the traffic from Gainesville to Nutley at like 6:30 am?

[novahousehunter]

Originally Posted by conanicut

Thanks for your reply! How bad is the traffic from Gainesville to Nutley at like 6:30 am?

Not sure--when I have a DC meeting it is usually at 10, so I leave Gainesville around 7:45.

I am guessing the trip would be significantly shorter at 6:30 because that is before the heavy rush hour, though probably by the time you get to the metro it will be slow there. Maybe others know. I do know the sun sometimes slows traffic at that hour going east.

[popalnet]

It's much quicker to drive, but if you don't mind the extra time then catch the PRTC bus from the Gainesville Virginia Gateway Shopping Center to either Vienna Metro or Falls Church Metro - then metro to DC.

[conanicut]

Thanks -- Do you mean its much quicker to drive to the Vienna Metro? Or all the way into DC?

[popalnet]

It's much quicker to drive all the way to DC. On average the trip from Gainesville to DC by car will take about 70-90 minutes.

If you take the bus/metro or VRE - by the time you combine the time you leave your house and by the time you get to DC, you're going to spend on average 110 minutes.

If you had a hybrid vehicle, then that is the best option for commuting because you would use the HOV/carpool lanes the entire way. Your average commute time from Gainesville to DC would be between 45 - 60 minutes.

[conanicut]

Okay -- thanks for the info. I am interested in the VRE but from BRoad Run but am not sure about the parking situation.