Burke Centre: Metrobus to Rail or VRE? (Springfield: home, transferring to)

[Germany2DC]

Hello everyone,

I will be moving to Burke Centre in a few weeks. For those that are employeed in downtown D.C., how do you commute each day to work? I see that the 18P Metro bus goes to the Pentagon where you can connect to the Yellow Rush rail to head downtown. I also know that the VRE will take you right downtown. What do you find to be most convenient? I'll be living closer to a Metrobus stop than the VRE station so walking to the bus stop is an option.

Thanks.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Germany2DC

Hello everyone,

I will be moving to Burke Centre in a few weeks. For those that are employeed in downtown D.C., how do you commute each day to work? I see that the 18P Metro bus goes to the Pentagon where you can connect to the Yellow Rush rail to head downtown. I also know that the VRE will take you right downtown. What do you find to be most convenient? I'll be living closer to a Metrobus stop than the VRE station so walking to the bus stop is an option.

Thanks.

Where are you going in DC? If it's not walkable from Union Station, you'd be transferring to a Metro anyway.

[gomason]

If it's walkable from L'Enfant Plaza or Union Station, VRE. If not, metro bus to train.

[Germany2DC]

Did the walk from my work to Union Station today. It's a little over a half a mile and took me a little more than 15 mins with all the stop lights, crosswalks, and then navigting through the crowd at Union Station to the VRE gate. Taking the Metro to/from Union Station is only going to make the trip more expensive so I'm thinking that the Metrobus to Pentagon to Yellow Rush is going to be a better option both financially and timewise.

[gomason]

I would just use VRE if I were you. Monthly pass on VRE is $214 from Burke to DC. Fares on Metro between the bus and train would be about $236 a month. Taking metro, you would have to transfer twice whereas you have a one seat ride from Burke to DC on VRE. Also VRE is cleaner, more comfortable, and more reliable.

[tysonsengineer]

Kind of the perfect situation really. Do VRE most days, and in the emergency case where you have to come home early, take metro to mid-day bus. Its one reason why the Rolling Road part of Burke is having a bit of a renaissance; people are realizing that VRE is a good option too.

[Germany2DC]

Originally Posted by gomason

I would just use VRE if I were you. Monthly pass on VRE is $214 from Burke to DC. Fares on Metro between the bus and train would be about $236 a month. Taking metro, you would have to transfer twice whereas you have a one seat ride from Burke to DC on VRE. Also VRE is cleaner, more comfortable, and more reliable.

Hi and thanks for your response. I did the math and Metro actually comes out cheaper when you factor in my employer's transit subsidy and the fact that I'll be able to telework one day a week. I've never been on the VRE but I have heard about its comfort, cleanliness and reliability however to save a few bucks more per month, I'd sacrifice that to ride on the Metro.

[Germany2DC]

Originally Posted by tysonsengineer

Kind of the perfect situation really. Do VRE most days, and in the emergency case where you have to come home early, take metro to mid-day bus. Its one reason why the Rolling Road part of Burke is having a bit of a renaissance; people are realizing that VRE is a good option too.

Is there really a mid-day bus to Burke? The earliest bus I saw that heads out that way is at 3:35pm (18P from Pentagon). Checked the FFX Connector and didn't see anything either.

[HDTBill]

Lots of folks slug in too from Burke/Springfield as another option

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by Germany2DC

Hi and thanks for your response. I did the math and Metro actually comes out cheaper when you factor in my employer's transit subsidy and the fact that I'll be able to telework one day a week. I've never been on the VRE but I have heard about its comfort, cleanliness and reliability however to save a few bucks more per month, I'd sacrifice that to ride on the Metro.

The VRE is also subsidized by the federal government for federal employees. Same system (thru commuter direct). I used to ride the VRE from Burke station and with subsidy it was about $160 a month (vs $200+). Don't discount the transition times from bus to metro. Although an option, it adds another ten to 15 min to commute. Few min walk from bus, few minutes waiting for metro, adds up.

The VRE from Burke is nice. Parking is free, and available. Almost always a seat and its a smooth ride. The riders you meet waiting for the morning VRE are the happiest and friendly compared to other commuter transition points. People who aren't rushed, drinking coffee, and waiting on predictable clean transportation are pleasant. Many networking opportunities have also risen out of those opportunities.