Haymarket to DC (Leesburg, Falls Church: 2013, rental, house)

[bavariantransplant]

I am interested in learning about anyone's commute experience from Haymarket (Dominion Valley) to DC proper. Everything is in line to purchase a home out there except for the ever lingering question of commute. I do not have the ability to try the commute myself at this time and was hoping the forums have commuters who can give some direct insight.

[kevbros]

The commute will be bad or brutal depending on when you leave. What times do you plan to be on the road?

[bavariantransplant]

Leaving the house around 530-6am and coming home around 4pm.

I am sort of aware that most are going to say, rightfully so, this is a tough commute, but was hoping to hear peoples actual accounts so I can get a clear picture what I am looking at.

[PolandSprings]

I agree, it will not be enjoyable. Even if you leave before 5am, thus avoiding most traffic, it is still a long drive each day. I get the idea of wanting to own a home, I just wish people didn't have to sacrifice so much else to do it. Have you looked into a van pool?

[PolandSprings]

Originally Posted by bavariantransplant

Leaving the house around 530-6am and coming home around 4pm.

I am sort of aware that most are going to say, rightfully so, this is a tough commute, but was hoping to hear peoples actual accounts so I can get a clear picture what I am looking at.

You'll be in rush hour traffic at these times. More cars, more accidents. Do you have the option to start your day earlier? Will you have a hybrid or carpool, thus have access to HOV lanes?

[VAFan]

Do you have to drive? I would most definitely ride the VRE out of the Broad Run Station.

[Middlin]

I live in Bristow and my neighbor works downtown. When she takes VRE it's typically a little over 1 1/2 hrs. Ovbiously this depends on how you can get from a VRE station to your office. When she drives with another neighbor she says it can vary from 90 minutes to 2 hrs.

Just out of curiosity did you not find anything you would like closer to the VRE? Living in DV really adds time to an already brutal commute. Until they fix the 66 entrance from Route 15 (and living through that construction) I would think shaving 30 minutes or more would be attactive.

THe new commuter lot at 66 and 234 should open this summer and you could bus to West Falls Church. In the mean time there is a commuter lot on Limestone with limited parking. (sort of behind Atlas Walk shopping center)

Since you can't drive inside the beltway after 6:30 am you won't be able to take 66. You'll end up having to take 50.

[bavariantransplant]

I have narrowed down our search parameters for a home to Haymarket area or Ashburn/Aldie/Leesburg. We prefer the Dominion Valley area over the Loudoun County area but trying to see which will provide the best commute.

There are many choices one must make when considering DC/NOVA with a family. This is by far the most complicated move I have ever made, but, it is probably going to be home for a long time and want to make the best choice. We also do not want to move twice in NoVA because the kids will then have to move schools twice. So we are trying to come up with a target area to concentrate for rental and buying or building a home. I am leaning towards making my day longer for the sake of a nicer home and community for my family, one they are used to.

[spleuchan]

If you leave Dominion Valley by 5:30 am, at least to the beltway, you should only have a couple minutes delay. I can't say much on past the beltway. I get on US 50 from there and there isn't a delay to Route 7 at that time in the morning. I leave at that time (and live right next to DV) and commute to alexandria, va.

If you leave DC at 4:00, your commute home will be rough. You won't be able to use I-66 inside the beltway and traffic is much worse at your afternoon commute time than your morning commute time. Commuting towards Ashburn would be slightly better, but you still have to deal with not being able to use I-66 inside the beltway and will be pretty expensive with all the tolls.

[bavariantransplant]

Thanks for all replies.

@ spleuchan, If I was commuting to G street in DC, wouldn't the best option to be to drive from Dominion Valley to a metro or VRE, park it and let the train drive? I grew up on Long Island, NY with everyone commuting to Manhattan, you would drive to the station that was closest to your home, park, and train it in then walk from the closest stop to your office.

It seems bizarre to me that lack of mass transit infrastructure throughout the DC metro area. NoVA has a huge population yet in 2013 there isn't a strong network of mass transit, seems like people are driving their commute too much, disappointing.