is it a good idea to commute from bethesda, md to arlington, va?

Congrats on the new job.

Your Metro commute will require a transfer between the Red Line (Bethesda) and Orange Line (Arlington) at Metro Center. Plan on _at minimum_ 40-45 minutes at rush hour rates (~$2.55) daily depending on which Arlington station is close to your job.

On the down side, any major disruptions/delays grind the Metro system to a halt (particularly on the older Red Line and on the Orange Line). On the plus side, your new employer may offer pre-tax dollars for Metro fare.

The Washington Post offered an informative article last year on "Where to Live, and How to Get to Work From There" that says for "Bethesda-Grosvenor-Rockville ... The neighborhoods in the Red Line corridor between the Bethesda and Rockville stations offer many housing options. A commute via public transportation to downtown Washington is 35 minutes to an hour, or much worse with significant Red Line delays. Transferring to the Blue and Orange lines to Capitol Hill or Arlington can mean commutes of more than an hour. But if you live in this area of Montgomery County and decide to drive to an office in Virginia, be prepared for regularly congested traffic on the Capital Beltway."

-- DC resident and daily commuter on the Red Line

Arlington Va To Bethesda Md

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RE:

is it a good idea to commute from bethesda, md to arlington, va?

I am taking a job starting first week of sept. it is based in arlington. the problem is, i am just starting out, and i cannot afford a decent living space (1 bedroom 1 bath apt) in northern virginia. I've been looking into bethesda maryland, and there seems to be some good options for apts...

It's not a bad idea. It's definately way better to use the metro than drive, especially to VA(the beltway and bridge area as mentioned earlier is terribly busy during rush hour and also gas prices). The commute isnt/wont be the shortest but its not too bad either. As far the cost of your apartment, I know Bethesda is a pretty affluent area, and more expensive than Arlington is. Both areas aren't cheap but Bethesda is definatley more expensive so Its your call . Well I wish you luck then :) ciao!

ps.. here's the link to the DC METRO/TRANSIT SYSTEM

http://www.wmata.com/

You can get an idea of the average travel time by using the itinerary option.

ALSO, one more thing, you can go to www.apartmentguide.com for more apartment options in that radius.

That is a long commute every day. The driving on the Beltway during rush hour is downright terrible - both to and from work. The Metro is a lot better but it does break down sometimes and takes around 1 hour including a change of trains.

You would like Bethesda. Lots of things to do.

Personally, I think Maryland is better than Virginia except for the taxes. I hope your new job pays a real good salary since you will need a salary of around $85,000 to live decently.

Bethesda is more expensive than the apartments that I found in Arlington. If I were you, I'd do a little more checking before I'd take on that commute.

The apartments near the New Carrollton Metro Station go for around $1,000-$1,200 per month and you can walk to the Orange Line which takes you through to Arlington, VA. Hopefully, your place of employment is also within walking distance of the Metro if it's on North Fairfax Dr. or Rosslyn.

Rush hour on the Metro costs $3.90 each way for a maximum total of $7.80. Buying passes won't save you much but your employer can deposit funds onto your SmarTrip card.

I'd suggest you look a little harder in Virginia. That way you don't have to cross the river if you drive, and you don't have to detour to Metro Center to change trains on Metro rail.

You can look as far out as Herndon or Chantilly. Just drive to the Herndon/Monroe bus terminal, where there is free parking, take the bus to West Falls Church Metro, and then you don't have to change trains to get to Rosslyn.

You heard it all. If you want to be closer in in Virginia, some less expensive areas include parts of Falls Church and Annandale. Also some Alexandria addresses (actually in Fairfax County) are possibilities. And you should be able to find something in your price range. Annandale has worse access to public transport than the others.

It is expensive to live here. You need to judge whether it might be worth it to live closer and possibly ditch the car. All in the work/life balance.