Commute From Silver Spring to DC (Brandywine: house, subsidized, living)

[TuffyCatt]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting ready to make the move to the DC area, so I've been looking for affordable housing. I've found a potentially good situation in Silver Spring, but the only thing I am terrified about is the commute to where I'll be working in Washington DC. So I thought I would ask about people's experiences and see if my fears are legitimate or if the whole thing would be pretty doable.

Some specifics:
1. The place I'm looking at is near Leslie Street in Silver Spring
2. I'll be working on Brandywine Street, close to the Tenleytown Metro station.
3. The place I'm looking at is pretty accessible by car to either the Wheaton or the Grovsners metro. I'm very willing to take the metro when I can, but some days my hours will prevent me from doing this.

Any thoughts on how my commute will be? Should I be afraid and seek pricier living closer to where I'll be working?

Thanks so much for any input!

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by TuffyCatt

Any thoughts on how my commute will be? Should I be afraid and seek pricier living closer to where I'll be working?

You will have an average commute for the DC area, maybe 45 minutes to an hour. The issue I see is that the Leslie Street house is closer to the Wheaton metro, and you really need to be on the other leg of the Red Line to get to Tenleytown. There are buses which will get you to the Grosvenor stop.

Nobody can answer whether you should spend more money and move closer to your work. It's your decision. Personally, I would save the money for the future.

[TuffyCatt]

Originally Posted by goldenage1

You will have an average commute for the DC area, maybe 45 minutes to an hour. The issue I see is that the Leslie Street house is closer to the Wheaton metro, and you really need to be on the other leg of the Red Line to get to Tenleytown. There are buses which will get you to the Grosvenor stop.

Nobody can answer whether you should spend more money and move closer to your work. It's your decision. Personally, I would save the money for the future.

Thank you so much for the response. On the days that I can, would you recommend public transportation? Do you think that's generally faster than trying to drive (including taking a bus to Grosvenor and then riding the red line down from there)? I've never lived in the DC area (or a city for that matter), so I'm just trying to get a feel for the different options.

Thanks again!

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by TuffyCatt

On the days that I can, would you recommend public transportation? Do you think that's generally faster than trying to drive (including taking a bus to Grosvenor and then riding the red line down from there)?

Unless your employer is providing subsidized parking at your work site, I'd recommend public transportation. There are several reasons: 1. Parking is very expensive in DC. 2. The traffic is stop-and-go between Leslie Street and Tenleytown with lights at almost every corner. It may be a toss-up whether it's any faster. 3. The public transit is more predictable, while car traffic can snarl up unpredictably. 4. You can read, work or listen to music on the bus or Metro.

On another note. I haven't parked at the Grosvenor stop, but it's large with 1850+ spots. I don't know whether it fills up completely before 8AM. If it does fill up, you might look at taking a Ride-on bus to the Grosvenor or Medical Center. You may have to experiment with different options to find the best one. Good Luck on your new job!