This week, I missed my shuttle connection
because of the backed up metro during rush hour, which means I had to wait for
another 45 min to get home. A long commute of an hour just got extended by
another 45 min.
I am sharing my experience of that day because
I am resolved to speak up to make a difference in the quality of my commute and
that of others.
On most days riding the metro to work and back is
somewhat digestible, today it is frankly annoying. We stopped more than a dozen
times between Navy Yard and East Falls Church. I have an upset stomach and I
just want to get home, but my trip time got almost doubled. I already paid $40
this morning to take a cab to be in DC at 8 am so I can’t take a cab again
to get home.
Ideally, I'd live close to work so that I
maximize the quality of my life. For that, housing needs to be affordable, and
land use and zoning accommodate uses like a mosque. Until then, I will continue
commuting and regularly experience frustration, stress, and apprehension to get
to work and home on time.
What would work is a reliable transit service
that will help me better schedule time for other important commitments, such as
spiritual growth, time with family and friends, exercise, community activities,
and continuing education and development.
Since Washington, DC is taking on improving its
transportation system, I highly recommend that its transit policy includes upgrading
regional travel. The majority of the labor force commutes from MD and Northern Virginia
to the District. I believe that enhancing regional travel will greatly impact commuters' well being and truly make DC a premiere destination for work.
