DRIVING THERE
Perhaps early morning meetings and nights spent working late are not uncommon aspects of your job. On the other hand, maybe driving your kids to soccer practice or attending swim meets demand that your afternoon route remains flexible. Life can be hectic, and for that reason, you value the convenience of an independent commute.
If you choose to commute to and from Ft. Meade by driving alone, we'll help you figure out how to make it work to your advantage by examining driving routes and commute times. In addition, the BRAC message boards provide a forum for employees to discuss commuting tips and strategies.
Directions and Distance to Ft. Meade
| Formatted Directions | Map |
|---|---|
THE FT. MEADE COMMUTER - HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
Curious about how long it would take you to commute to Ft. Meade by driving? We were too.
In order to get an accurate understanding of what the commute would entail, we tested several routes ourselves. In addition, we did the commute twice — by departing from our residences at both 5:30 a.m. and at 7 a.m. — to see if getting an early start would help save time on the road. Take a look at the table below to review our findings.
You can visit the message boards to read detailed accounts of our commutes, or to post the findings of your own test commutes.
| Location | Start Time | Arrival Time | Total | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria, VA Starting Point: Exit 176/Telegraph Rd >> see route >> discuss |
5:30 a.m. 7:00 a.m. |
6:15 a.m. 7:45 a.m. |
45 min. 45 min. |
3:00 p.m. 4:15 p.m. |
3:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. |
45 min. 45 min. |
| Fairfax, VA Starting Point: Exit 60 on 66 >> see route >> discuss |
5:30 a.m. 7:00 a.m. |
6:13 a.m. 7:50 a.m. |
43 min. 50 min. |
3:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. |
4:00 p.m. 5:32 p.m. |
60 min. 62 min. |
| Woodbridge, VA Starting Point: Potomac Mills - Slug Lot >> see route >> discuss |
5:30 a.m. 7:00 a.m. |
6:30 a.m. 8:13 a.m. |
60 min. 73 min. |
3:00 p.m 4:45 p.m. |
4:12 p.m. 6:10 p.m. |
72 min. 85 min. |
| Waldorf, MD Starting Point: Rt. 301/Berry Rd. >> see route >> discuss |
5:30 a.m. 7:00 a.m. |
6:20 a.m. 8:05 a.m. |
50 min. 65 min. |
3:00 p.m. 4:35 p.m. |
3:55 p.m. 5:45 p.m. |
55 min. 70 min. |
*These commutes were done on various Tuesdays during the summer of 2008. Departures from the DISA Telework Center at Ft. Meade coincide with an 8-hour workday and half-hour lunch break.
Commuting
Related FAQs
- Will DISA help set up transportation, such as charter buses, from Virginia or Maryland?
- What kind of public transportation is available now for commuting and what transportation opportunities will be available in the future?
- Once we move to Fort Meade, will we still be eligible for and receive mass transit benefits?
Test the Commute Yourself
Once you've researched potential routes and times for your commute, give it a "trial-run" by spending a day or two working at DISA's Ft. Meade Telework Center. Before you go, please be sure to:
- Reserve your seat at the Telework Center via your Outlook Calendar (open "DISA's Telework Centers" from the global address book).
- Download a map of the Ft. Meade campus to assist you in finding the Telework Center.
Let us know what time you left home, what route you took, whether or not you ran into any problems, and what you learned along the way. We'll assimilate the information and share it with the rest of the workforce via this Web site.
Slugging
"Slugging" is a term used to describe casual carpooling. Here's how it works:
- A driver needing additional passengers to meet the required high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane minimum pulls up to a " slug line" - a designated location where riders wait.
- The driver will lower their passenger window and call out a final destination, such as "Pentagon" or "L'Enfant Plaza."
- The slugs first in line for that particular destination get in the car. No money is exchanged when slugging because both parties benefit. There is also no recurring commitment for drivers or passengers - you may choose to slug or pick up slugs every day, or only occasionally.
Slugging may help you eliminate part of your commute time. For more information, visit the Slug-Lines.com Web page.