Dr. Gridlock followed a traditional route, using Interstates 370, 270 and 495 to Georgia Avenue. Berman took his first trip on the Intercounty Connector. Time and tolls weren’t the only factors in the outcome.
Dr. Gridlock’s trip
7:45 a.m.
My 1997 Toyota RAV-4 and I leave the parking lot in front of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration office and wait for a green light and the chance to turn left onto MD 355. Traffic is so heavy that cars remain in the intersection as I turn, but it soon clears a bit and I get in the right lane for the ramp to westbound I-370.
7:47 a.m.
Trouble already. The left-side ramp from I-370 toward I-270 is jammed. Three lines of traffic are coming together, and not all of us are trying to reach I-270. Some drivers on the left want to move right onto I-270’s local lanes while the rest of us move toward the “express” lanes. (What’s in a name?) Traffic crawls forward, but drivers are giving each other a break and we complete our weaving merges.
7:59 a.m.
I move into third gear and reach 30 mph passing Exit 5 on I-270. I’ve maneuvered into the third lane from the right and am next to the high-occupancy vehicle lane, which is crowded but moving. I’m not spotting any lane violators, though it’s so easy to cheat here.
8:06 a.m.
I reach the I-270 split, moving into the lanes heading for the Capital Beltway’s inner loop (I-495) at 50 mph. The speed is exhilarating. Moments later, I’ll be back down to 20 mph, and sometimes less, near the Old Georgetown Road bridge. The radio traffic reports aren’t even talking about my roads. I guess this congestion is normal.
8:17 a.m.
I’ve reached the Beltway, at 15 mph. Apparently, no one is in the correct lane for their destination. I try to move toward the right, but a tractor-trailer moves left. Tractor-trailer wins.
8:25 a.m.
After this grind on the interstates, I’m pleasantly surprised to be going 45 mph while moving into the right-lane exit for Georgia Avenue. I wait in line just one traffic-light cycle to reach southbound Georgia. I’ve gone 15 miles in 40 minutes, mostly on big highways. How long has Mark been waiting for me now?
8:36 a.m.
I cross the D.C. line, turn right onto Kalmia Road and park. Georgia Avenue was crowded but moved well — at least, compared with the interstates. That was 17.5 miles in 51 tedious yet stressful minutes. Most other commuters on Georgia are still continuing on toward downtown. Has Mark given up on me and left? Well, at least I didn’t pay $1.45.
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