Rep. Connolly to slug to work

Northern Virginia U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly plans to play the part of a slug on Friday.

As reported on the Post's Dr. Gridlock blog, the Democrat who is running for reelection to represent the 11th District says he plans to begin his day at 7:30 a.m. in the new Tackett's Mill commuter lot. He will take his place in the slug line and catch a ride into Rosslyn, where he'll switch to Metro and ride the rails to Capitol Hill and the Cannon House Office Building.

Connolly, a former Fairfax County commissioner, plans to spend two weeks in slug lines, and riding commuter trains and buses to underscore his record of involvement with transportation.

"I learned early in my career that it is important to have a dialogue with those who are most affected by our region's dubious distinctions of having some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation," Connolly said. "Over the years, my constituents have provided me with many good ideas from their first-hand perspectives on our transportation needs."

Connolly said he plans to ride Metro's Orange and Blue lines from Fairfax County into the District; commute on Virginia Railway Express from Prince William County; join slug lines in Prince William and Fairfax counties; take a Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission commuter bus from Prince William; and drive what is called the longest commute in America from Bristow along Linton Hall Road into D.C.

Ashley Halsey III