Portland Area Traffic (Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin: apartment, living, light rail)

[AdRock]

Hello All,

I’m new to the forum and the area, and would like to get some feedback on some questions I have. I just relocated to accept a job in Tualatin, and am currently in the search for an apartment in the area. Ideally I would like to be somewhere in between Portland and work. One question where the input of a native would be needed is the traffic situation around here. It seems to me it is kind of a mess wherever you are. If I am commuting to Tualatin and want to stay somewhat near Portland what are my options if I want to minimize commute time? I’m currently looking in the Beaverton/Tigard area. How are the areas east of 217? It would be great if I could get near the TriMet Max line for easy access to downtown, but I think given my job’s location this would put me too far north. Is southbound traffic on 217 and I-5 always congested in the AM? I relocated from Dallas so I understand traffic is an inherent part of city life, but I just want to make sure I think this through so I’m not spending 45 minutes getting to work everyday. Proximity to downtown is important, but I would like to limit commute time to 25 minutes or less. Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[OREGONRAIN]

If the job is in Tualitin, do yourself a big favor and find the apt in that community, or Wilsonville, even Tigard. Traffic is brutal here, for such a small metro area, I believe Portland is way up there now on the list of most congested cities. I work in a job where I do alot of driving around this metro, and the Beaverton Tigard area, is horrible, there just are not enough roads, and its like you are stuck in that area once you get there, 217 is not one of my favorite places to drive, unless it was 1am and everyone was in bed, leaving the road clear for me. There are numerous apt bldgs in Tualitin, you should be able to find something there. There is no light rail in that region, a commuter rail will I have heard is going to be built from Wilsonville, thru Tualitin, Tigard and Beaverton to connect with light rail, but I have no idea when that is to be built. There is alot of transit options in metro Portland, if you do decide to live in the Tualitin area, and want to go downtown Portland and not drive you could, it would be on bus, but there is a transit center in Tualitin. Either way I would not recommend living to far from your job especially going north of Tualitin, that commute would turn you off fast.