Drive from Ballston to Metro Center (home, costs, mall)
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I'm moving to the Ballston area soon and will have to commute to an area a few blocks from Metro Center. I'm most likely going to metro, but would like the flexibility of driving sometimes also. How bad is that commute by car (both there and home after work)? Would it help if I didn't have to be in until 930ish?
Traffic definitely decreases after 9 but there's still often a good amount of congestion before 9:30. Metro would probably be faster or take about the same time. It also would be MUCH cheaper (unless you are one of the few who get free parking). Parking downtown costs like $200 a month or more.
After 9:30 am, before 4 pm and after 7 pm, the traffic is pretty reliably light.
Traffic definitely decreases after 9 but there's still often a good amount of congestion before 9:30. Metro would probably be faster or take about the same time. It also would be MUCH cheaper (unless you are one of the few who get free parking). Parking downtown costs like $200 a month or more.
After 9:30 am, before 4 pm and after 7 pm, the traffic is pretty reliably light.
I am one of the lucky few that has free parking at work fortunately. If I left at 9, about how long would you guess it would take in the morning? Say, just for arguments sake, Ballston common mall to metro center metro station. Also, what route would be the best? Again, thank you SO MUCH!
I have a very similar commute and leave about 7:25. It usually takes me 25-30 minutes.
The biggest issue is getting across the bridge. I avoid the 14th Street (I-395) Bridge like the plague because while it can sometimes be quickest, it has tons of traffic and there are regularly accidents that snarl everything.
Your best bet is probably taking 50 to the Roosevelt Bridge (I-66) and taking the E street expressway exit to 18th and then H. You could also take 50 to the Memorial Bridge and take 23rd street to H street. I think the latter would be quicker as traffic is pretty much always free flowing across the Memorial Bridge but I don't think it would be a huge difference either way. I would try those two routes and see which you like better, but I'd definitely avoid 395.
I wouldn't drive either, but I've done both and learned the lessons. That's probably what the OP should do. For me, the transit subsidy made Metro a no-brainer, but one situation is not necessarily the same as the next.
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