What is Your Commute time to Downtown duing rush hour. (Phoenix: home, neighborhood)

[brianjs]

It looks like I may be taking a job that is in Downtown Phoenix. Being new to the area I am trying to get an idea of commute times from different areas. I would like to be out a ways, however I also don't want to feel like I am living in Seattle again.

Thanks!

[Finger Laker]

I used to work in the central corridor which is like going to downtown, but just on the otherside of the I-10

from goodyear it would take about 20-30 minutes in light non-rush traffic

for rush hour in the summer it was usually around 45 minutes (sometimes an hour)

in the winter this would swell to an 1 hr to 1:15 on average - some days it would be closer to 1:30-1:45

22 miles of distance

if you lived S of the I-10 and worked downtown you could probably do a pretty consistent 45 minutes year around by avoiding the freeway completely

[Perkinst]

Originally Posted by brianjs

It looks like I may be taking a job that is in Downtown Phoenix. Being new to the area I am trying to get an idea of commute times from different areas. I would like to be out a ways, however I also don't want to feel like I am living in Seattle again.

Thanks!

Live in east Mesa and take the 60. Its been expanded to handle high volumes of traffic. Should take you 30 min. or less on good days.

[brianjs]

Originally Posted by Perkinst

Live in east Mesa and take the 60. Its been expanded to handle high volumes of traffic. Should take you 30 min. or less on good days.

Is light rail a viable option from this area as well? I heard that certain parts of Mesa should be avoided. There is a stop that will be close to my likely office, however I also will have to drive sometimes.

Thanks,

Brian

[Robert A]

15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. From 36th St/Cactus in NE Phoenix.

[imtaya2]

I live in farmland "Buckeye" - southwest of Phoenix. I work by I-17/7th Street and it takes me 1 hr on rush time because of construction on I-10

[KarmaPhx]

I used to take the 101 from 7th St to the 51 South and I worked at 24th St and Thomas for a few months, it took about fifteen minutes getting there, leaving at 7. I got off at 4, took about 20 depending on the route.

[Greatday]

To downtown? 1 1/2 to 2 hours during rush hour

[buckeyenative01]

I live near the intersection of 40th Street and Chandler Blvd. and work at Park Central in Midtown Phoenix (Central/Osborne)

It takes me anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes in the morning if I leave by 6:20am. I'll take 48th Street until it becomes the 143, then the 202 to the 51 to Thomas.

Taking the same route home at around 4pm can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on how backed up the 143 and I-10/Broadway Curve interchange is at that time.

[exit2lef]

Originally Posted by brianjs

Is light rail a viable option from this area as well? I heard that certain parts of Mesa should be avoided. There is a stop that will be close to my likely office, however I also will have to drive sometimes.

Thanks,

Brian

At this point, light rail extends only to the western edge of Mesa; however, there's a big park-and-ride there, so you could split your commute between driving and light rail. You could also take LINK bus from east Mesa to the light rail. Personally, I find east Mesa dull and ultra-conservative -- redeemed only by its proximity to good hiking in the Superstitions and the Goldfields. Of course, some people like it; it all depends on lifestyle. That brings up an important point: Shouldn't a decision of where to live be based on more than just commute time? What are you looking for in a neighborhood?