Economy Parking at Dulles
 

I try not to park in the economy lots to often at IAD but since I was taking a longer trip, I want to save the company some money. Yesterday I pulled into the Gold Lot at 3:45. I waited until 4:05 for a bus to come by, in fact there were two buses (nothing like staggering them). We then went on to drive throughout the entire gold lot and some other lots as well and did not arrive at the terminal until 4:30. Should it really take 45 minutes to get to the terminal. My drive to the airport is only 30 minutes.

I park at the Herdon-Monroe parking lot along the Dulles toll road. The 5A bus swings by every hour on the weekend and every 30 minutes during rush hour. Did I mention that parking is free? :) Bus costs $3.00 each way.

where is it?

is there a limit on how long can I park there for? how about 2 weeks?

The 5A schedule is at http://www.wmata.com/timetables/dc/5a.pdf
Note that the cash fare is now $3.10. The frequency you quoted is only partly correct - the bus is every 60 minutes on weekends and holidays, but it is every 40 minutes on weekdays (regardless of rush hour or not).

As for extended parking at the Herndon-Monroe Garage, according to http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/connect..._p_r_const.pdf
"Overnight parking is prohibited in the garage." I'm not sure about enforcement of this, but I wouldn't risk it.

my understanding is that due to facility problems one can no longer park at HM for extended periods.

Most, if not all, of the bus stops have a call box. I never wait more than 5 minutes before calling.

Also, when I have to park out in the gold lot I sometimes park close to the green and walk over there.

Bottom line - be proactive.

I called Fairfax County regarding the HM parking lot two weeks ago, and they said that overnight parking is legal with no limit.

I never used that option before (and want someone to give it a shot before using it myself with the possible overnight issue) but with the increase in economy parking fees, I'm seriously looking for options as there is no public transportation from my home so its taxi or parking lots :(

I did that for 10 days over the July 4th holiday. :)

How PO'd do the Washington Flyer cabbies get about such a short ride.

I ask because I've just about come to blows with cabbies in other cities when taking a short trip after they sat in the que for (possibly) hours.

i asked about that in one of the prior threads. the answer was that they get a chit that allows them back to the front of the line. do not know if that correct or not.

I know that's true at LGA and DCA where that scenario has come up frequently for me. I imagine it would be the same at IAD, although with the weird monopoly the one cab company has there, who knows what else is abnormal about the cab situation at IAD.

haven't used them a lot lately but it was the deal previously at IAD

Weird. Web site says one thing. Phone number says another. I read somewhere else on FT that he parks at the HM lot regularly overnight. That makes two of us.

- Pat