The Washington D.C. area is known for its traffic gridlock.
To avoid a stressful daily commute, you should choose an apartment that is close to your workplace and has good access to public transportation. Weekday rush hour traffic is heaviest between 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Estimated driving times are unpredictable as a minor accident can back up the highways for miles in either direction.
Here are some tips for commuting in the D.C. area.
Driving
While all of the highways surrounding Washington D.C. get congested during the morning and evening rush hours, driving is usually the most convenient option when traveling within the suburbs.
- Check traffic alerts. Use a GPS to map the best route and stay flexible, taking detours and finding new ways to get around heavy traffic.
- If you don’t mind the extra cost, use the HOT lanes in Virginia. These lanes use your E-ZPass transponder to charge a toll and allow you to drive in the faster lanes.
- Form a carpool. By sharing the ride, you will save money on fuel and car maintenance. Carpooling can also reduce time spent on the road because you can use HOV lanes which usually move faster than the other lanes.
- If you live in Virginia, you can use slugging, an organized system where commuters stop to pick up other passengers.
Subway and bus
The Metrorail subway system includes six lines and serves 91 stations in Washington D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. Metrobus operates 1,500 buses. Both transit systems connect to bus lines in the suburbs. The Yellow/Blue lines connect with Reagan National Airport and the Silver line will eventually provide service to Dulles International Airport. The DC Circulator is a local bus system with 5 routes around the most popular areas of the city.
- Purchase and register a SmarTrip card. You may add value to the card from the convenience of your computer. The same card can be used to pay for Metrobus fare. Metro will also replace the cared if it is lost or stolen for a $5 fee.
- If you have a flexible work schedule, avoid traveling at the most crowded times: Monday through Friday, 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 to 5:45 p.m.
- Don’t transfer lines if you can walk the distance between stations. Many stations are near each other and within an easy walk.
Commuter Rail
There are two major commuter rail systems serving the Washington D.C. area: Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) and Virginia Railway Express (VRE). Both systems operate Monday through Friday and have cross honor agreements with Amtrak to offer reduced fares for commuters.
Operational times are limited. Be sure to know the schedules and plan accordingly.
Commuting by Bike
Washington D.C. is a bike-friendly city with more than 40 miles of bike lanes and Capital Bikeshare, the largest bike sharing program in the nation. There are approximately 440 stations and 3,700 bikes throughout Washington D.C. and the nearby Maryland and Virginia suburbs.
Commuter Connections is a great resource to learn more about ridesharing and other commuting programs around the capital region.
Photo by Yuvraj Singh on Unsplash