What's 50 and Wilson Blvd like in morning? (Arlington, Annandale: schools, legal) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

msjack · 08-23-2008, 06:13 PM

Hi all-I have a question about the morning commute. I will be commuting from Haymarket to Virginia Hospital Center one day a week on Mondays for school. I know how 66 is since I used to go to FFx in the morning. My question is how is 50 and Wilson Blvd before 6:45 am. I have to be there by 7 am, but plan on being there a little early. I know that 66 will get worse once all schools are back in session and that it's even getting heavy at 6 etc. Are 50 and wilson backed up aroung 6:15-6:30? I did a dry run today and it took me 45 min. So I was going to give myself about an 1 hr 15 min to 1 1/2 hr to get there with morning traffic? Does this sound ok? Also, which would be faster to take Wilson blvd/patrick henry/16th st or wilson blvd straight to george mason dr? Thanks for any help!

bmwguydc · 08-23-2008, 08:11 PM

50 & Wilson at that hour is not bad at all. And, as to your route recommendation, I would stay with 50 to George Mason Drive, as it's the lights at Annandale Road and Graham Road, in particular, that causes delays on 50, but in the six o'clock hour, you should not encounter too much in the way of bad traffic in the Falls Church-Arlington stretch of 50. Will you be making the transition to 50 at the Beltway? If so, you might have some slowdowns at the aforementioned intersections, but an hour and a half is likely sufficient time for this trip. It's funny but sometimes five minutes either way makes a huge difference in Falls Church-Arlington traffic, so intially I would allow the extra time until you have a good gauge of the route and traffic with schools in session.

dkf747 · 08-24-2008, 01:42 PM

Why use 50 at all? Stay on 66 to Glebe Rd then go from there to the hospital. That should be quicker than using 50.

msjack · 08-24-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkf747

Why use 50 at all? Stay on 66 to Glebe Rd then go from there to the hospital. That should be quicker than using 50.

I didn't know I could go that way. I'm not familiar with Arlington at all. So would I just go 66 to Glebe to George Mason Dr.? I just went with the directions I got from Yahoo/Mapquest. If it will be quicker I would definitely rather do that. Isn't it HOV to Glebe on 66 in the morning?

bmwguydc · 08-24-2008, 04:43 PM

Yes, 66 does have HOV restrictions. In the AM, eastbound hours are 6:30am-9am, and in the PM, westbound hours are 4-6:30. You need to be off the highway at Glebe by 6:30, though enforcement is usually on the entrance ramps, not on the highway itself. It's a stiff fine and points for violating this, so if you're running into a borderline time, it's best not to push it on 66. Weekends and legal holidays, the HOV-2 restrictions are suspended.

It is a faster route to go to Glebe and then to George Mason Drive, but you need to be early enough to do it. Leaving at 5:30 from Haymarket should give you enough time, but there may be some mornings when you might not meet the cutoff for 66 if there are delays.

dkf747 · 08-25-2008, 11:46 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot about the HOV restrictions. If you do use 66 to Fairfax dr to Glebe, then go left and left again on Washington Blvd. That will get you to George Mason, not far from the Hospital.

msjack · 08-25-2008, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkf747

Oh yeah, I forgot about the HOV restrictions. If you do use 66 to Fairfax dr to Glebe, then go left and left again on Washington Blvd. That will get you to George Mason, not far from the Hospital.

I think I'm definitely going to try that way. I saw this morning it's not restricted until 6:30 so I think I will be ok. I was getting on 495 at 6:10 so I would have had plenty of time. Thanks for the tip!