best way to Dulles North Transit lot

I tried to carpool (no takers) so now I am going to try the Loudoun Commuter bus. What is the best way to get to the Dulles North Transit lot? I cringe paying to hop on the Greenway for two exits, but I fear (yes - fear![:0]) the back-ups on Waxpool. Is there a way to get to Old Ox Rd from Wynridge/Claiborne area?

Of course, if there is anyone out there who would like to carpool in to DC I would welcome that option also.

Thanks- Sandy

 

It's probably better to go on down to Herndon/Monroe and pick up the connector bus there on to West Falls Church Metro. At least that way you'll feel you're getting your monies' worth on the toll road and it's easier to park and ride there.

 

Herndon/Monroe is no bargain, either. Unless you take Waxpool to get to the Dulles Toll Road, you will pay about $12 a day to get to DC (not counting the gas you use to get you to Herndon/Monroe):

$ 5.50 for Greenway tolls (soon to be $6);
1.35 for bus fare ($1 in the morning, .35 in the afternoon w/transfer); and
5.20 for Metro fare ($2.60 each way, depending on where you are going).

 

OK, then, Saleonar, forget trying to be the good guy and go ahead and clog up the roads per Pats fan's suggestion. Or, save the $12./day and move to Adams Morgan.

 

Hey Dutch, read my post again and tell me where I suggest driving into the city instead of taking the bus? Can't find it? Didn't think so. So chill out, man!

Frankly, if your commuting time is not a significant concern then taking the bus from Herndon/Monroe to West Falls Church may very well be your cheapest commuting option. You can cut the cost in half by taking Waxpool/28 to get to the Dulles Toll Road.

 

The Herndon/Monroe option is about as easy as it gets to commute to DC, imho. The money is well spent considering the alternatives. You can also get a lot of good books read that way!!

 

The loudoun county transit isn't so bad either. It may seem a little pricer, but in the end it isn't much more. The best way to get to the Dulles Transit Center would be Waxpool to Broderick (across from Wegmans & AOL) to Moran Rd. It takes about 10-15 minutes (in traffic) and parking is free. The buses are new, nice, and pretty reliable. If you try the the Herndon-Monroe, would you mind posting how it goes? My husband goes all the way to Alexandria! Crazy I know! Good luck.

 

I agree with kat, with the caveat that you can take the road past Home Depot to LCP, and that to Waxpool to block out some of the waxpool traffic. but, if you'd rather, you can catch the Loudoun COmmuter in Leesburg. It seems counter intuitive, but the traffic to get there would be less...

I prefer it over the Herndon/Monroe option, since you don't have to make the switch, especially if you'd have to switch to another line as well. That's as long as the bus goes near where you need to be. It was so nice to get on it and have it take me all they way over near Union station without the noise of the metro, and without having to go through 2 transfers.

 

Where in DC would you be communting to? As of now I drive the Greenway to West Falls Church Metro with a final destination of 600 Maryland Ave, SW. If you are heading to the same basic location, I would be interested in hooking up to share the costs of driving/ parking into the city. Another possible deal breaker is that I like to arrive in town by 6:45am daily.

 

Wow - what options! Zansu - I think I will try the LCP to Waxpool -- keep in mind I am new to the entire area -- I know where the HomeDepot is, but what road "right after HD" are you referring to? Could you walk me through from the Claiborne/Wynridge intersection?

Acetrip - 6:45? Not sure I could do that -- what time do you leave at the end of the day? I work at Penn NW and 7th -- and the kicker is I have free parking! That is why I would love to find someone to carpool with so that we could use the HOV. Without HOV and using 66, how else can you get in (and out) of the district under 2 hours? ha!

Thanks for all of your help and feedback -- as you can tell, I really need the help --

 

The road is Shellhorn - and you could either take Waxpool or Ryan road to get there.

 

Thanks - now I think I know where I will be going.

 

Saleonar, I work at 14th and NY. I have to be there by 8-820am and leave by 430pm so I can pick up my son at the daycare by 530pm. Let me know if we can work something out.

 

You can also get to the DNTC area by taking Waxpool to Broderick (the Dulles general Mail facility road). Take a right onto Broderick and then a right onto Moran. Moran comes to a "t" and the DNTC is right in front of you.

I've done this a few times and the traffic is not that pleasant on Waxpool but you bypass the Greedway.

 

Zansu,
Here I thought I was the only that knew about the "short cut" and got to pretend I was living in the country, 4 wheeling past home depot, to LCP Looks like that little stretch of road will be getting finished soon though.

 

there's so little left that's unpaved. All you have to be really careful about is those idjots going 70 MPH over the greenway bridge straight toward you.

 

When we lived in Herndon, my wife used to take the FC bus from the Herndon/Monroe park to the West Falls Church and then Metro to Navy Archives. Her commute each way was over an hour. If Metro had delays (once a week or so) it would take longer. What she did not like was that the trip involved two outdoor transfers and 1 underground(Car to bus then bus to Metro). When we moved to Broadlands we bought a Hybrid since her company subsidized parking.

Since moving to a new job near Metro Center she has been taking the LC bus from the Dulles Park and Ride. She typically takes the Greedway two exits to 606 (I hope they implement distance-based tolls like PA turnpike), then returns via Waxpool. Even though we live farther out, her communte takes a reliable 1 hour each way. The time savings over the Herndon/Monroe/Metro comes from the fact that the LC Bus has fewer stops AND she doesnt lose time transfering from bus to train (outdoors)[xx(] to train. Cost about the same as downtown parking without the driving.

I spoke with a LC Bus official a couple of weeks ago. They are considering adding a stop at the new LCPS Admin building off Claiborne and Broadland Blvd.[] That would eliminate the Greedway for her. He said they can't keep up with demand for more buses and routes. Anyone ever thought of carpooling to the Dulles Park and ride? My wife typically catches the 7:50AM bus.

 

My spouse took the LC bus yesterday and he is sold! Even when we do carpool together using HOV, he still arrived in his office faster via the bus and also more refreshed and relaxed! And I liked the fact that he was also home much earlier too! The 7:50 bus works great for the hours he prefers and if a stop for the bus would open up in Broadlands that would be even better!

The only downside is while he can get dropped off at State Dept in the morning (drop nearest to his office) he has to go a little bit of a jaunt in the evening for the nearest stop to go home but he's working on options such as taking the metro to Rosslyn and then getting the bus from there.

I've never done this but his feedback is the efficiency, promptness, save of wear and tear and gas money on the car and especially saving his peace of mind from the commute!