10 things my internship taught me about transportation in DC
Every year, thousands of up and coming leaders come to DC to intern. Knowing how to get around can be difficult at first, but if you follow this advice, you’ll steer clear of lighter pockets and grumpy mornings.
In early January, I arrived in DC with two suitcases and a small budget for transportation. Being a full time student and an unpaid intern who lives just a mile from work, I spend most of my time walking.
There are, however, a lot of times when I take Metrorail. Irvine, California, where I’m from, doesn’t have a subway system, so using Metro (“Metrorail” is the official name, since there’s also Metrobus, but everyone just calls the train system “Metro”) has been a new adventure filled with ups and downs.
Now that I’ve been here for a while, I can tell you ten things about Metro that will help any intern who’s new to DC:
1. Understand the map: DC is divided into quadrants that center on the US Capitol— Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE) and Southwest (SW). Be sure to orient yourself properly so you don’t end up at, say, 10th Street NE when you meant to go to 10th Street NW. Additionally, familiarize yourself with the Metro map. Before your first day of work, mark the route that you plan to take so you don’t miss your stop.
2. Prepare for traffic: The Metrorail crowds can be a big hassle. Go towards the ends of the platforms, as commuters tend to group towards the middle.
3. Different time, different price: The students in my internship program who take the Metrorail every day, spend around $40 per week. However, the fares vary by station and during peak times, they’re more expensive. On weekdays, these are in effect from 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM, and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. On the bright side, the trains will arrive more frequently at this time of day.
4. Consider a Metro pass: If you use the Metro enough, a SelectPass can save you time and money. This calculator helps to determine which pass will save you the most. Even if you plan to walk or use Capital Bikeshare to get to work, there are going to be times when you’ll want to use Metro, and for those, it’s important to have a SmarTrip card.
5. Register your SmartTrip Card: Don’t forget to register your Metro card just in case it is misplaced or stolen. This is especially important if you’ve loaded a large amount of money on to it.
6. Know to behave on the Metro: A lot of Metro stations have long escalators. If you’re standing while riding them, stay to the right to allow room for those who would prefer to walk. Also, Metro doors do not operate like elevator doors, so putting your arm out to keep the door open will not end well.
Once you’re on a Metro car, be sure to move towards the center to make room for others. If you’re inside an already packed train, don’t underestimate another rider’s ability to force their way in too. After being shoved into the armpits of several tall strangers, I’ve learned to position myself away from corners in order to prepare for the “sardine can” type of morning.
7. Running Late? Metro vs. cab: During my second week of interning, I woke up 10 minutes before work started and figured that taking a cab would be the quickest option. Unfortunately, I was stuck in traffic for twenty minutes. Lesson learned: cabs and ride hailing aren’t necessarily the solution when you’re running late— they’re expensive and can just as easily get stuck in traffic. I’ve found that most of the time, when you’re late, the reality is simply that you’re out of luck.
8. The weather can affect your commute: This past February, I experienced my first snow storm. I had often heard jokes that DC residents panic at the mere thought of snow, yet I was still surprised by how cautious the city was about transportation during the blizzard. During this time, the Metro didn’t service my area for nearly a week. If you’ll be in DC during the winter, frequently check Metro alerts to see if there are any operational changes to the Metrorail.
9. Ask your supervisor for a transportation stipend: As an unpaid intern, every penny counts. Since DC has some of the highest fares of transit in the US, I suggest that interns at least ask if their work sites offer a transportation stipend. At my previous internship, I received $150 at the start of every month to cover my estimated transportation costs, which helped significantly. A friend of mine kept receipts of her fare purchases, gave them to her supervisor, and was compensated at the end of each month. Some internships, like those on Capitol Hill, do not offer this option. But it never hurts to ask!
10. Know your options: Capital Bikeshare will let you get some exercise while you commute, but it’s also often just as fast as Metro, or even driving. CaBi allows you to rent a bike from over 300 solar powered stations in the DC area. You can also enjoy a view of the city and save a few bucks by riding the bus— if you regularly do this, definitely buy a pass. The Circulator is another great option, and riding only costs $1! However, this does not service all areas of DC. Last but not least, if you live close to where you need to go, there’s one option that almost never fails: walking!
Got any transportation advice for people that are new to DC? Comment below.