Cost or Convenience?
If you’re not used to it, commuting in DC is no joke. This is all new to me so I’m going through a bit of a transition period as I get over my culture shock. My old commute was less than 10 minutes from home garage to work garage – practically FREE. Now I have many (not so free) options available, but they all have pros and cons.
OPTION 1
Mode of Transportation: MetroBus
Breakdown of Costs: $1.25 each way
Employer Contribution: 100% subsidized
Commuting Time: 1 hour plus walking time
Description: Must walk 0.20 miles to bus stop in the morning, take bus to stop 1, get a transfer for another bus, wait 10-15 minutes, get on second bus that drops off near work, then walk 0.10 miles to office. Same drill going home.
Pros: All paid for by employer. Car will not move all week.
Cons: Bus does not come frequently enough to allow any flexibility in work schedule. Wait time between transfer. Long commute and potentially longer if traffic problems.
Single Ma comments: Blah!
OPTION 2
Mode of Transportation: Bus and MetroRail
Breakdown of Costs: $4.40 ($1.25+$3.15) TO and $3.75 ($1.25+$2.50) FROM
Employer Contribution: All subsidized, except $53/month (assumes 20 workdays)
Commuting Time: 35 minutes plus walking time
Description: Must walk 0.20 miles to bus stop in the morning, take bus to metro, wait 3 minutes, get on metro that drops off near work, then walk 0.30 miles to office. Same drill going home.
Pros: Mostly paid for by employer. Decent commute time. Car will not move all week.
Cons: The Metro stinks! The 0.30 mile walk TO the office is 3.5 blocks UP a hill. *faint*
Single Ma comments: That uphill trek is hellacious! No matter how you look at it, walking (and sweating) in a suit sucks…period!
OPTION 3
Mode of Transportation: Car and MetroRail
Breakdown of Costs: Gas, $3.75 parking at Metro, $3.15 TO and $2.50 FROM
Employer Contribution: All subsidized, except $72/month (assumes 20 workdays)
Commuting Time: Same as OPTION 2
Description: Drive, park, get on metro that drops off near work, then walk 0.30 miles to office. Same drill going home.
Pros: Same as OPTION 2.
Cons: Morning traffic to metro may add to commute time. Others, same as OPTION 2.
Single Ma comments: Same uphill trek as OPTION 2. Boo!
OPTION 4
Mode of Transportation: Car
Breakdown of Costs: Gas plus parking that varies $4-$10/day
Employer Contribution: NONE
Commuting Time: 25 minutes
Description: Drive residential areas, cruise to work in the AM. Parking is metered if get to work before 6:30a (never) or in several choice garages with various prices. All within close vicinity to office so walking is minimal. Parking at own office bldg is most expensive. Must wait 90 days before given a preferred parking pass. Drive home may be hectic if leave after 5:30 PM (rarely so far, but likely in future).
Pros: Shortest commute time AND distance. Flexible schedule. Convenient. NO WALKING!
Cons: Average cost of $140/month (assumes 20 workdays) plus gas at $3.15/gallon. Always the potential for traffic problems. Mileage (22 miles/day), wear, and tear on car.
Single Ma comments: Preferred pass NOW please!
What is more important to you, cost or convenience?
Which commuting option would you choose?
You know what I’ve been doing right? Ha!
Peace & Blessings
~*~*~*~*~*~
Work to achieve, not to acquire.
And as always, BE FABULOUS!
~SM
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Fabulous Financials » My New Job (Pingback), 24 April 2008, 22:02
[...] half hour later, he called my BB to say he was getting off the metro and walking UP the hill. I hate that hill. I told him I was on my way downstairs and I’d wait for him in front of my building. Although [...]
LMAO!!!! girl I know the culture shock you feel.. but it gets easier..
check out a commuter bus.. its a lil more costly than metro BUT it usually drops you RIGHT OFF within a block or so and the ride is more comfy (think greyhound style bus but upgraded with better seats and stuff).. you drive to the park & ride *which is free* and then commute into downtown..
when I worked downtown, I drove during tax season *jan-april* and took the commuter bus *may-dec* and drove when I “expected” to work later than normal.
but umm that walk uphill isn’t too bad LOL *teasing* just think what your legs will look like. BAM!!! working out without actually working out! LOL
I know you are currently driving.. :) just wouldn’t be you to NOT do that.. but if I had to chose, I would go with the car/metro option 3 I believe.. gives YOU more flexibility IF you needed to leave later from work and not worry about connecting to a bus.. YOU KNOW DOWN HERE THE BUS AND TRAINS STOP RUNNING AFTER A CERTAIN HOUR.. THIS AIN’T HOME! lol
wait I stand corrected.. it actually equals the “cost” of the metro ride and no parking so its actually cheaper *commuter bus* depending on where you are traveling from. I think Dillards is in Northern VA.. or even Eyre but I think Eyre is mostly MD and Dillards is VA
I went through all these same options when I started working downtown. For me driving is not an option because there aren’t any garages or street parking where I work. So I have to take public transpo. And I had similar combination options too and I have to say your time is worth more than the few dollars you save. Maybe you could try a combination of drive and metro. I’ll say this too, where I’m at, if you don’t get to the metro parking lot early, you won’t get a spot cause it’s FULL! And I’ve driven to other stations and they’re full too. It does seem to fill up slower on Mondays and Fridays because of people who work comflex schedules. If I could, I would sooooo drive. In the morning it’s not so bad, but in the evening, when I walk out of my building, all I wish I could do is just get in my car and relax. Even with the traffic. Plus once you get a monthly permit, it shouldn’t be that much more expensive right?
Although I probably need that walking time for my ever growing back side……I’d drive my car. I am just no good on public trans.
What if it rains? No way I would lug it up hill in the rain.
As far as I’m concerned – there is only 1 option.
If I was pinching pennies, I would take option 1, and if I had to work late, I would drive.
Gas prices are only going to go up, and it is going to cost more $$$
Well, in this case the cost doesn’t necessarily make it convenient when you factor in the traffic aspect. I had to go to NoVa for training for my job and after seeing that crazy traffic I know my azz would be on somebody’s metro w/ the quicks if I move down there. Get you some good walking kicks, throw the pumps in your purse, and get ta trekkin’ lol. In a month you will have lost 5 lbs with ease hehe. I’d prolly go with option 2 (the less buses the better, I hate them shyts) or 3. I work downtown in my city so option 4 sounds similar to mine except parking is usually at least 15/day. So I walk 10 mins to the train and 5 mins to the job once I get off the train.
I would probably drive…maybe take the bus occasionally. I work in downtown Cincinnati and the cost to park varies from $4-$15/day + gas, which is around $3.49/gallon now. When the weather is nice and I don’t have any late meetings or travel planned, I tend to take the bus. There are times when I just get tired of the people on the bus and will drive regardless of what my evening looks like. I don’t have a parking pass, so I pay daily if I drive. If I had a pass, my employer would subsidize some of it. My commute on the bus is about 20 mins total (walking included). I tend to be a little impatient with my time so I’d probably opt for convenience in your case and just drive most days, since it’s only about 35 mins.
On nice days I’d drive to the Metro (when I was in DC, I thought the Metro was clean and efficient! Has it gone downhill in the last 5 years? Maybe I was just comparing to New York…)
On days with rain/snow/high humidity, I’d probably drive but feel awful about it.
ROFL Like we don’t know which option is currently in effect! LOL Some options price themselves out of ‘convenience’ you know? I’d probably prefer to drive myself but would most likely go with option 3 more often than not.
Hi Single Ma…. I like in Chicago
You have some great options, but you pay for what you like….
Here is my story
I drive to work everyday:
1 hr commute time
I fill up twice a week for $55 each time….
I park in a garage which is below my job on Michigan Ave… that is $200/mo
Well…in the end… Its all abt convenience.
I could probably save 300/mo on driving expenses if I took the train…but I am happy!
I’m going with opt 1…you get to save money and get some exercise. Can’t beat that! Plus you can always use your whip on days of inclimate weather.
Any chance you could carpool with a coworker to knock back the expenses a little?
I guess there’s a slight metallic odor in the metro, but it doesn’t bother me. However, it could smell like 10,000 pairs of feet and I STILL wouldn’t try to drive into the District.
Those drivers are crazy, I’d have to pay $10 to park every day, and I’d be paying for tons of gas that would just burn off in stop-and-go traffic.
Or I can take the bus line around the corner from my house, get a nice quiet ride to the Metro, ride just a few stops, walk a couple of blocks to my office, and never pay a dime out of pocket.
(If I miss the bus around the corner, I can take one of the buses that goes directly in front of my door, but those ones are more crowded and some of the regular riders need more medication than they get. I don’t have those problems on the way home, because I get back later most nights.)
For all its faults, I love Metro.
I used to work in San Francisco. There is bart there which I think is simular to metro (although not sure) basically its a train. What I loved about that commute, was that I could read, listen to music, sleep or think. Even more than cost, I didn’t want to drive in “the city” where it traffic, bad parking and lots of frustration. Also for me it forced me to be on time (probably not a problem for you – but my life long chanllenge!). I read at least 4 books a month, the newspaper and was able to be prepared for work once I got there. I didn’t need to bring much work home since I could get the overflow done on the way home or to work.
Unfortunately, with my daughters schedule, I can’t do this anymore. So my vote would be option 1 or 2. Look at the process as a way of retrieving your time and peace. ‘Cause I don’t know about you but 25 minutes in traffic, hunting for a park and paying for the privelege leaves me all irritated in side. But thats just me! lol
And I guess you’re asking about your particular situation.
I’d probably do option 3, which is what I did when I was out past the toll road. And I’d keep a change of clothes in the office at all times.
sigh…i remember my commute back in the day. Car, marc train, subway and walk the underground which is uphill UGH!!! I lost weight and was in shape then tho lol.
However if your commute is NOT covered that walk is soooo not an option. Not and keep your fabulosity :-)
HOWEVER with gas prices rising in hopes to make it to $4 a gallon before summers end (booooo!!!!), not sure what to suggest here. I know you’ll make the right decision tho.
There is another option. You can take the bus/metro or whatever as normal. If you work late, you can call a cab on those occasional nights. Some employers even pay for cabs late at night due to safety.
Ha, Ma, I feel ya! I am in Chicago and the cost of public transportation has gone up, up, up, ($2 one way with no transfer!) while the service has been cut. And of course its not always safe if you are a single woman after a certain hour of night, depending on what train line or bus line you are on. On the other hand, I’m sick of paying to fill up my gas tank – for some reason Chicago has the highest gas prices in the country right now, we’re at about $3.98 this morning. And don’t get me started about cabs!
Like you, I’m finding that my time is worth more, so I do drive usually 3 – 4 days a week, and then take the CTA the rest of the days. Now that it is warming up, I will start biking a few days… but my office’s idea of “fabulous” is jeans and tshirts, so that works for me.
If I were you, I’d drive for now – your time with BG and time to get used to your new neighborhood, explore, make friends, etc is worth more now. Once you get more settled in to things, maybe switch to public transportation part of the time.
PS – The best part about the train/bus is that I get a lot of reading done!
i would drive. that’s only because i have issues with being in close contact with people on public transportation. i feel like i’m NOT in control of the situation. yes, i have control issues, haha…—i almost passed out when we caught the trolley thru san diego. :)
I’d choose option 4 but only because of where you live and how you have to dress for work. When I lived in the Bay Area, I did option 3. However, the weather was fairly pleasant year round (no hot, muggy mornings) and I didn’t have to wear suits to work. A nice shirt and slacks would suffice. The weather was never hot enough to sweat in the mornings and only sometimes in the evening but I was headed home and out of those clothes anyway…
I’ll tell you right now. I drive.
I *COULD* take the bus to the metro and then another bus and walk to my office on a busy street with no sidewalk which was not designed for people to walk near, unless they are on the W&OD trail.
I *COULD* also be sweaty disgusting and wake up early only to get stuck at work late anyway and then have to do the cab/Metro guaranteed ride program and pay $50 and wait for a reimbursement.
Didn’t you factor in your commuting costs when you negotiated an offer? I’m telling you, I totally figured out what the toll road was going to cost me when I came for my interview and made sure I factored that into my new salary. (The gas and distance is about the same as my old job.)
Maybe you can carpool with a co-worker once or twice a week?
Suck it up! Aren’t you making a mint now? *wink*
Hmmmm… If you take your car, you can shop for shoes at Tysons after work a lot easier. Does that help make your decision?
I’d go with option 2 (the cheapest way that doesn’t take an hour) IF I could figure out how to get to work without sweating like a pig.
Currently I take a single bus (no transfers–I’d rather walk an extra mile than wait around a second time hoping a bus will come) and I also walk uphill at the end (over 100 stairsteps) because parking is expensive and far away anyway (though in another, non-downhill direction). But I’m allowed to dress business casual.
If you try this sort of thing, you will get the following benefits:
* more money in your pocket
* automatic exercise
* time to read or listen to music or something else instead of dealing with rush hour traffic
* if you’re running late, you can switch to taking your car that day
I recommend a hat or parasol (umbrella) to keep the sun off when it’s hot. Also more comfy shoes. Maybe a whole athletic outfit, then clean up with a wet washcloth at work. And drink plenty of water (it will taste so good!).
Ok, I used to workin DC and I took two trains in….the MARC and then the Metro rail. I was able to relaxon the commute and stress free when I got to work.
Single Ma:
I gather you’re not physically active by your reluctance to walk during the commute. Look at it this way, you will increase you fitness level – not to mention the strength and stamina of your legs. Just get a pair of walking shoes – there are many fashionable and fabulous styles – to ease the strain. I vote for the metrorail/bus option.
Good Luck, luxuryhudson
I need the convenience of my car. I’m always thinking, “What if I get a call from the school nurse?”
i’m sorry i know it is “better” to go with one of the public transport options but it is just not fabulous to arrive to work all sweaty and hot. i would probably go with the last option and continue to keep my ears open for carpool options, better bus schedules, etc. Good Luck! :)
cost…
I commute on the MARTA…I drive 10 minutes to the train….change trains downtown…walk across the street to the office…
The only issue is that if something happens at one of the boys’ school, I would have to catch the train which is 25 minutes wait time during non-rush hour times…and can add about roughly a 45 minutes to the time it would normally take me to drive it without traffic. Upside…ATL traffic is AWFUL…so I miss all of it and the company pays for the monthly MARTA card. *YEAH*
I drive to work now (MD to VA…ugh!) and it is a beast. At my last job, I took metro…walking and then hopping on the train and I’ll be honest, I think I’d take the walk and then the train ride again if I had to pay for it all myself! I get free parking at my job now, but the commute is ridiculous!
It averages from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, but it’s only 28 miles away!!!! Make me wanna holla, throw up both my hands….to knock somebody the hell out!!!