Need an Alternate Route - Germantown to Silverspring

[cpterp]

I agree with tonyc. I don't really see any good driving alternatives (and I've tried them all, trust me). New Hampshire/Randolph Rd, MD 355, are all bad. You can avoid the Beltway by taking MD 355 into downtown Bethesda then East-West Highway through Chevy Chase and directly into Silver Spring. I only recommend it if the Beltway is really bad though (which it often is). You can also take Georgia Ave (MD 27) into Silver Spring if Rt. 29 is bad. Come to think of it, if you're going downtown Ga. Ave. is a much better option even if traffic is the same as 29 since it's a shorter distance into downtown, and you spend less time on the Beltway.

Your best bet is to take MARC train (Brunswick Line). It takes you directly into downtown Silver Spring (if that's where you work) from Germantown in 30 min or less. The Germantown station is on Germantown Rd (MD118). The Silver Spring MARC station is at the Silver Spring Metro station on Colesville Rd right in the middle of downtown across from NOAA, Discovery Channel, and all the high rise condos. SS is a very popular stop for commuters and is the second busiest on the line easily.

The train only runs weekdays and there are 8 trains in either direction (about every 20 min or so) during peak times (and in peak direction) only. On Friday there's an extra midday train out of DC.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by cpterp

You can also take Georgia Ave (MD 27)

One minor correction: Ga.v ave is 97, not 27.

I also agree that there is no better route than the Beltway. The MARC train is a good idea.

[CHIP72]

Depending on how accessible your job is to public transit, you could take the MARC Brunswick Line from Germantown to Silver Spring and then take a bus (either Metrobus or Ride On) from Silver Spring to your workplace. There are various buses that run on US 29 to/from Silver Spring, most notably the Z series Metrobuses.

[cpterp]

Originally Posted by CHIP72

Depending on how accessible your job is to public transit, you could take the MARC Brunswick Line from Germantown to Silver Spring and then take a bus (either Metrobus or Ride On) from Silver Spring to your workplace. There are various buses that run on US 29 to/from Silver Spring, most notably the Z series Metrobuses.

Yeah, Silver Spring is the busiest bus hub in the DC Area. More than likely though he could probably walk to work right from the station.

Originally Posted by dkf747

One minor correction: Ga.v ave is 97, not 27.

I also agree that there is no better route than the Beltway. The MARC train is a good idea.

Thanks for the correction. I always mix up Ga. Ave. and the Father Hurley MD27 ("the Road to Damascus") in Germantown.