Time and time again, my husband has relayed just how hairy the traffic can be commuting to DC Monday through Friday.  In fact, I usually harass him and tell him just that he’s just an eager beaver and really just wants to get to work early.  Well, it’s hard to imagine just how many cars can be on the road to the DC area at one time until you have actually seen it with your own eyes. 

Today, I had the “honor” of experiencing commuting to the DC area for myself.  I have a couple clients who scheduled a home inspection in Arlington for 8am.  My only hope of making it on-time was to stop at a commuter lot and pick up a couple ’slugs’ (non-derogatory term for commuters).  Actually, I was really nice and picked up three for my trip North on I-95.  This is a user-user situation.  ‘Slugs’ use the driver to get up to the DC area and the driver uses them ‘slugs’ to legally drive in the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.  It’s a situation that works extremely well in our area and is really a win-win however you look at it.  As I looked out the passenger window and witnessed first-hand the gridlock of those who were not in the HOV lanes, I was simply in awe. I can’t help but wonder how one makes it to work on-time without using the HOV lanes.  I can only imagine that they must feel helpless sitting in the seemingly endless line of traffic that must produce a steady dose of daily stress.  

I read a recent article that said only drivers in Los Angeles endure rush hour delays more brutal than Washingtonians.  Well, congratulations to for the dubious achievement of having the second worst traffic location in the nation. 

Last week, I wrote a blog article on the pricing difference between the Fredericksburg Real Estate Market and the Northern Virginia area.  This is where the real decision is for those who work up North.  Do you buy a home South of DC where you can get a more affordable home? Or, do you incur the additional cost and purchase a home closer to the DC area to avoid the commute?  Everybody has their priorities and you have to think about what works best for yourself and your family.

Finally, I’d like to thank my husband who endures this commute every day so our family can reside in the Fredericksburg area.  I now completely understand why he leaves so early, but I can’t say that I will stop harassing him, (where would the be the fun in that be!!)