Commute from Shirlington in to DC (Alexandria: condo, live in, buses) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

huguenot · 11-23-2009, 12:12 PM

I'm considering putting a bid down on a nice condo in Shirlington, but I'm a bit worried about the commute. I work in downtown DC, near the Verizon Center and Chinatown. Can anyone tell me about the commute into the city from Shirlington? The condo is walking distance Shirlington Village and it looked like there's some sort of bus hub there. Any advice is useful.

CAVA1990 · 11-23-2009, 12:26 PM

Will you be driving? If so, you'll be very close to I-95 which isn't too bad that close to the city. The closest Metro stop (King Street) would be a ways East of you down King (3-4 miles?) but I'm sure there's a Dash bus that will get you there. From there you catch the yellow line to Gallery Place/Chinatown which should get you close to where you need to go. I'd do it.

huguenot · 11-23-2009, 12:55 PM

I prefer to take public transportation if possible. So I guess from Shirlington that means bus? How do most Shirlington residents get into the city? Bus to a metro stop? Bus all the way in?

terrence81 · 11-23-2009, 01:28 PM

Work in Shirlington so fairly familiar. Congrats on the condo. Yeah you'd take the #7 to the Pentagon metro or the #23 to the Ballston metro. I'm thinking the Pentagon metro would be best since I don't think you'd have to change trains. Should take about 30 not a bad commute. I think there's some rush hour express buses to the Pentagon too so yeah not a bad commute.

Also if you ever need to go to the airport you'd take the 23 as well but the one going to Crystal City and get on the metro from there.

akorosdc · 11-23-2009, 01:32 PM

From Shirlington you take the bus to the Pentagon. It's about a 5 minute ride, and then from there you'd catch the yellow line to Chinatown/Gallery Place. Several buses stop there (off the top of my head, the 7A, 7E, and 7F), so it's pretty convenient. There might be a bus all the way in, but I'm not sure (and think bus-to-metro would probably be more direct). Definitely don't go to King Street. It's further away than the Pentagon or Pentagon City, and you'd be going south to go north, so it'd just waste time.

I'm not sure how long the entire commute would take, but it would be under 45 minutes (I only say that because my commute was 45-60 minutes when I took a bus through Shirlington to the Pentagon and then the yellow line to Archives or Gallery Place and walked 10-15 minutes to my office from there).

CAVA1990 · 11-23-2009, 01:53 PM

Doh! I think I deserve reverse-reputation points after seeing your much better Metro advice. Guess a Mt. Vernonite shouldn't have chimed in on this one.

akorosdc · 11-23-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Doh! I think I deserve reverse-reputation points after seeing your much better Metro advice. Guess a Mt. Vernonite shouldn't have chimed in on this one.

It's totally fine, a lot of people who move that area make the same mistake. When I first moved to Alexandria I'd take the DASH bus to King Street instead, adding a good 20 minutes or so to my commute (if not more), and my coworker in Fairlington didn't know about it until I told him.

huguenot · 11-23-2009, 02:05 PM

So, door to door Shirlington to DC is about 35-45 minutes on bus/metro?

TRTFSHR · 11-24-2009, 05:36 AM

I live in Fairlington and commute to Union Station. It takes me 35-40 minutes. I bus to the Pentagon on the 22A or 25A then metro to Gallery Place before hopping on the red line to Union Station. It is such an easy commute. I highly recommend this method.

A few bus lines hit the Shirlington Transit Center. I know the 7 and 25 lines do.

Yes, I would say a max 45 minutes to Verizon Center. In fact, I think on most days, you could make it in 30-35.

rgb3 · 11-25-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huguenot

So, door to door Shirlington to DC is about 35-45 minutes on bus/metro?

Only if you take the bus/metro. If you drive, it'll be about a 15-20 minute commute. A parking space in the Chinatown will run you about $240/month - well worth it in my opinion.