I’ve been trying to figure out how not to drive to the Kennedy Center tonight. I was planning on, say, driving to Fredericksburg, leaving my car in the Park & Ride, and taking the train into DC and the Metro to the Kennedy Center. Well, that would be all well and good if I wanted to get to Sorena’s concert at 6 and leave about fifteen minutes later, because the last trains south out of Fredericksburg are at the wee hours of 8 p.m.
This is unbelievable. Not a single southbound or outbound train line gets me anywhere but to the outskirts of DC.
The New York City train and bus lines ALL have last trains out ranging from 11:30 to 1 a.m. to the surrounding states. And it’s not like Richmonders don’t work in DC, nor haven’t for years.
So instead of saving the gas (and carbon footprints) by not driving into the DC area, I’ll be heading to work for a 1:30 meeting after all, and taking the Metro from a northern VA suburb of DC.
If anyone has a better suggestion, I need to be at the Kennedy Center by 6 p.m. tonight, and I’d like to get back home afterwards. I don’t want to drive into metro DC. Did that a month or two ago, and it sucks.
Take the bus! I think Greyhound offers red-eye trips out of DC, you can probably catch a late bus to Fredericksburg or Richmond.
BTW here on Long Island the LIRR runs 24/7.
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.
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.