Lorton to DC? Help/Advice Please

Good morning slug folks... need info on how/where to slug from Lorton Rt. 1 area to downtown DC (14th street)for a co-worker new to the area.

Any assistance or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

This is a shared system folks. Most of us were raised with manners, it's time to start using them.

XOXO- sluggin' girl

Just thought I'd update info on Lorton. It would be nice to expand the people going there in the morning, so there will be enough people to build a return line.

The slug lines go in to L'Enfant station or Pentagon. A few people ask for Crystal City too, and there are the occasional drivers for Metro Center (besides me). Some drivers go in on 14th, then turn right on C SW towards L'Enfant. So you could potentially get dropped of at 14th and C.

The best times appear to be between 7:15 and 7:45. At least that is what I've been told, since I never seem to make it there in time. And if I hadn't been writing this post, I might have made it. :-)

10 minutes before any of the trains are supposed to arrive might be the sweet spot. There is a 7:18, 8:03 and 8:27 trains.

L'Enfant people tend to be mostly before 8. More Pentagon people come in the 8 to 8:25 time span.

If you are a slug that doesn't get a ride, buying a single ride ticket on the platform is easy, but you have to pay by credit card. It is easier and cheaper to buy a 10-ride ticket and validate before you ride each time. Since you will probably go back on the VRE, it's best to do it anyways. You can also buy the 10-ride tickets online, or at one of the Commuter store locations.

If you are driving north on Lorton Station Blvd from Lorton Rd, you will pass a stop sign that goes into the little shopping center on your left. You go north up to the next entrance to the left which goes to the main VRE station entrance. There is a clock tower and a medical building to your right as you turn in.

As you go in, there are these little grassy areas at the ends of the rows. The slug line is to your left on the second to last row. If driving, make a U-turn and pull up to the line. If riding as a slug, you will have to park fairly far away to find an open spot (it is a big lot) and then walk back.

Since the last train comes at 8:27, drivers should assume that any possible slugs hopped the train rather than risk being stuck at the slug line location. If you come by after 8:30, or if you don't have enough slugs at that point, head up to Bob's.

From the VRE station, keep going north on Lorton Station Blvd. You will hit a T intersection onto Pohick road. Go left, and you will immediately turn right onto Alban Rd. Alban turns into Backlick later on, and then you will be approaching Bob's from the south side. It is on your left. While you are going N on Backlick, close to Bob's, you will see a point where part of Backlick veers to the left. You want to follow the part to the left. You will see Backlick rise up to go over a bridge, and turn before then.

I know people know where Bob's is, but I didn't know if they knew the back way to get there from Lorton VRE without hitting traffic.