Comments on: DC mass transit: Screw you if you want to go home late

By: Meryl Yourish

Meryl Yourish — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:55:18 +0000

Well, I had to be at a meeting at Company in NorVA by 2:30, so I just drove.

There’s no reasonable commute south past 7 p.m. It’s absurd, especially now that gas is so expensive.

I used to be able to get home to NJ from NY as late as 1:30 a.m.

I think I’m going to write VDOT a nasty letter.

By: David Charlap

David Charlap — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:50:13 +0000

I think you’ve already come up with the best idea. Drive to NoVA and take Metro from there. The southernmost Metro station is the Franconia/Springfield station (blue line). The station closest to DC with available evening parking is at the Arlington Court House (orange line.) The court house has underground meter-parking, but the meters are (or were, the last time I was there) free in the evenings. Official Metro parking lots (like the one at Franconia Springfield) are not free on weekdays – they will cost $4.25-4.75, and you must have a SmartTrip card in order to make the payment.

Just remember that Metro stations close at midnight on weekdays, with the last trains leaving earlier. So take note of the last departure times at the station in DC and any transfer points.

Unfortunately, there really is not good system for someone in your particular situation here.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:28:45 +0000

BTW here on Long Island the LIRR runs 24/7.

By: Lefty

Lefty — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:17:32 +0000

Take the bus! I think Greyhound offers red-eye trips out of DC, you can probably catch a late bus to Fredericksburg or Richmond.