Working in College Park and Living in VA (Reston, Manassas: house, neighborhood)

[glengarry]

Hi,

I just moved from Chicago. I work in College Park, MD. I am looking for a house in VA and my budget is $450K. I like NOVA area. My areas of interest are Reston, Fairfax but many people told me the commute is terrible. Does anyone has any experience in commuting from Fairfax/Reston to College Park, MD? Any suggestion what area has good schools (I have 5 years old daughter), reasonable cost and commute? I apprecaite any help.

[slowlane]

The DC are overall, has the nation's second-worst traffic (according to AAA rankings for the last several years). Partly, this is because no new Potomac bridge crossings have been added since about 1965, while the traffic has tripled or quadrupled since that time. Every time planners sensibly propose building another bridge crossing (like near Leesburg, VA or near Quantico, VA), residents of the immediate area say "don't you dare build it in my backyard -- it will only encourage more sprawl development and interstate traffic through my community".

If you're sure you have a secure job in College Park, and you want to avoid the under-rated Prince Geo. County school system, you could try living in Montgomery County (Silver Spring or Burtonsville) or Howard County (Columbia or North Laurel), or Anne Arundel County (Crofton), MD which have better schools, and you would thereby avoid the horribly congested Potomac Bridge crossings.

[slowlane]

The DC area overall, has the nation's second-worst traffic (according to AAA rankings for the last several years). Partly, this is because no new Potomac bridge crossings (except for rail) have been added since 1965, while the traffic has probably tripled or quadrupled since that time. Every time planners sensibly proposed building another bridge (like at either Leesburg or Quantico, VA), residents of the immediate area protest "don't dare build a bridge in my backyard -- it will only encourage more sprawl development and interstate traffic through my neighborhood) -- so none ever get built.
If you want to avoid the poorly-reputed Pr. Geo. County school system, you could consider living in Silver Spring, Burtonsbille, North Laurel, Columbia, or Crofton, MD, which are all in other Counties, and you would thus avoid the horrible bridge crossing congestion.

[mica]

HAHA.

One time I left College Park as rush hour was beginning and it took me 3 hours to get to Manassas. Then again any commute in NOVA will make you suicidal.