Herndon to Dulles airport is a tough commute? It's practically walking distance!
Maybe it is "walking distance", but with no sidewalks, or means of getting there by other than the toll road, one had to:
a. take personal vehicle paying tolls, and parking once you got there (assuming you could find any), or sending car back with someone else, all in very slow-moving traffic patterns;
b. take taxi from Herndon to Dulles, paying exorbitant fare and still subject to sluggish movement while trying to get to the ticketing or claims areas;
c. go to National (Reagan) airport from Herndon, and take the airport shuttle to Dulles. Surprisingly, because this mode had access to express lanes almost all the way, it was very nearly a quick as personal vehicle or taxi. And it did not cost all that much more.