Most Washington area commuters choose between driving alone (76 percent) or using Metrorail (9 percent). But I seldom see mention of two other options: commuter rail in Maryland and Virginia and ride sharing.
Commuter rail is generally comfortable. Most stations have all-day parking. Ride sharing offers substantial cost savings and the opportunity to get to work using HOV express lanes.
I encourage commuters to try commuter rail and ride sharing before settling on a commute mode. Here is more information:
• Maryland's MARC commuter system has three lines that pass through many of the most densely populated areas. All end at Union Station in the District, with connections to Metro's Red Line.
The Brunswick Line, outbound from Union Station, stops at 11 stations in Montgomery County: Silver Spring, Kensington, Garrett Park, Rockville, Washington Grove, Gaithersburg, Metropolitan Grove, Germantown, Boyds, Barnesville and Dickerson. It then stops at Point of Rocks and Brunswick in Frederick County and Harpers Ferry, Duffields and Martinsburg in Jefferson County, W.Va.
A Brunswick Line spur from Point of Rocks connects with Monocacy and Frederick. The Brunswick Line stations at Rockville and Silver Spring also connect with Metro's Red Line.
The Camden Line, outbound from Union Station, stops at five Prince George's County stations: Riverdale, College Park, Greenbelt, Muirkirk and Laurel; three Howard County stations: Savage, Jessup and Dorsey; one Baltimore County station: Saint Denis; and Camden Station in the city of Baltimore.
Commuters can connect with Metro's Green Line at Greenbelt and College Park.
The Penn Line, outbound from Union Station, goes to New Carrollton, Seabrook and Bowie State in Prince George's County; Odenton and Baltimore-Washington International Airport in Anne Arundel County; Halethorpe in Baltimore County; West Baltimore and Penn Station in the city of Baltimore; Martin Airport in Baltimore County; Edgewood and Aberdeen in Harford County; and Perryville in Cecil County.
The Penn Line connects with Metro's Orange Line at New Carrollton.
For more information on MARC trains, call 410-539-5000 or 800-325-RAIL or visit www.mtamaryland.com.
• Virginia Railway Express offers the Manassas Line between Manassas and Union Station and the Fredericksburg Line between Fredericksburg and Union Station.
The inbound Manassas Line originates at Broad Run Airport, with stops at Manassas and Manassas Park; then Burke Centre, Rolling Road and Backlick Road in Fairfax County; King Street in Alexandria; Crystal City in Arlington; and L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station in Washington.
The Manassas Line connects with Metro's Blue and Yellow lines at King Street and Crystal City; the Yellow, Blue, Orange and Green lines at L'Enfant Plaza; and the Red Line at Union Station.
The inbound Fredericksburg Line originates at Fredericksburg and stops at Leeland Road and Brooke in Stafford County; Quantico, Rippon and Woodbridge in Prince William County; Lorton and Franconia-Springfield in Fairfax County; King Street in Alexandria; Crystal City in Arlington; and L'Enfant Plaza and Union Station.
The Fredericksburg Line connects with Metro's Blue Line at Franconia-Springfield; the Blue and Yellow lines at King Street and Crystal City; the Yellow, Blue, Orange and Green lines at L'Enfant Plaza; and the Red Line at Union Station.
For more information, call VRE at 703-684-1001 or 800-RIDE-VRE, or log on to www.vre.org.
• Ride sharing is a cost-effective way to commute. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has set up a Web site, www.commuterconnections.com, and phone number, 800-745-RIDE, to match commuters with rides.
In Prince William and Fairfax counties, drivers pick up commuters -- called "slugs" -- at gathering points. For more information, visit www.slug-lines.com.
Transportation researcher Diane Mattingly contributed to this column.
You can write to Dr. Gridlock at 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071. He prefers e-mails at drgridlock@washpost.comor faxes at 703-352-3908. Include your full name, town, county and day and evening telephone numbers. Dr. Gridlock cannot take phone calls.
