I-495 Traffic Flow (Alexandria, Herndon, Merrifield: income, income tax, living in)

[sprintflash]

Trying to figure out potential commutes..which way is the traffic flowing on 495 North (VA to MD)? ......Due to the commuters traveling from VA to MD and DC, I thought that the majority of the traffic, in the AM, is traveling north crossing over the American legion Bridge into MD. Is this correct??

[pcity]

It's the opposite. Commuters predominantly travel from MD to VA in the morning.

[metclubin]

VA to MD on 495N is very smooth. You can drive at highway speeds. Occasionally, there is some backup before the bridge which slows down but never stop and go unless there is some accident and lanes are blocked.

I always wonder why the traffic is so bad on 495S MD to VA in the evening?

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by metclubin

I always wonder why the traffic is so bad on 495S MD to VA in the evening?

Because of the massive amounts of people entering 495 from the Tysons and Merrifield areas.....

[yamota]

not just 495 but I've often wondered why there are so many cars with MD plates on 66 west during the evening rush, why are they going further into VA, shouldn't they be going back to MD where they belong??

[sprintflash]

Thanks for the info

[GustavoFring]

Originally Posted by yamota

not just 495 but I've often wondered why there are so many cars with MD plates on 66 west during the evening rush, why are they going further into VA, shouldn't they be going back to MD where they belong??

After living in Herndon, Tysons and now Alexandria, I've often wondered that too. I always assumed their significant others lived on this side or something.

It's weird driving east from Ashburn in the morning and seeing MD plates heading the same direction. I personally support some sort of curfew for Marylanders. After 6PM, they have to be on the other side of the Potomac or risk being incarcerated.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by pcity

It's the opposite. Commuters predominantly travel from MD to VA in the morning.

I'm not sure that's true anymore. In the morning both sides have similar traffic, in the afternoon, the inner loop is often worse than on the outer loop. Both sides are terrible then, though. I'm talking about the American Legion bridge, not the Wilson Bridge.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by dkf747

I'm not sure that's true anymore. In the morning both sides have similar traffic, in the afternoon, the inner loop is often worse than on the outer loop. Both sides are terrible then, though. I'm talking about the American Legion bridge, not the Wilson Bridge.

I disagree. In the morning, the inner loop is much better than the outer loop. (I travel the inner loop.) Now, it has likely improved on the outer loop thanks to the new HOT lanes, but it is still better on the inner loop. From 7-8 am (prime rush hour time), barring an accident, you can expect to go at (Beltway) speeds (65-70mph) from Tysons to Clara Barton Pkwy. I'm pretty sure you can't do that on the outer loop.

[Fredesch]

I think you see Maryland plates so often because Virginia taxes cars while Maryland has much two income taxes. So if you have a relative or some way to register a car in Maryland, you can save yourself a few bucks.