Work in Palo Alto and live near Alum Rock (San Jose: apartment, for rent)

[googlietdr]

Hi,

I work in Palo Alto and my wife works in Pleasanton.
We have friends living on Capitol Ave near Alum Rock.

We plan to take an apt/condo for rent near that location (around 101 - 280/680 intersection).

My office is close to 280 in Palo Alto. I will take freeway 280 all the way from AlumRock to my office. In normal traffic google maps says drive time is around 30min.
My question to experienced folks here is - How bad is the commute during peak office hrs?

Thanks,
Googlie

[never-more]

Originally Posted by googlietdr

Hi,

I work in Palo Alto and my wife works in Pleasanton.
We have friends living on Capitol Ave near Alum Rock.

We plan to take an apt/condo for rent near that location (around 101 - 280/680 intersection).

My office is close to 280 in Palo Alto. I will take freeway 280 all the way from AlumRock to my office. In normal traffic google maps says drive time is around 30min.
My question to experienced folks here is - How bad is the commute during peak office hrs?

Thanks,
Googlie

I'm guessing 50-70 minutes. But I'm curious why you'd pick a location like Capitol Avenue?

[googlietdr]

Hi,

Thanks for letting me know .. 50-70min one-way is a lot of travel time .. hmmm ..

Our close friends live on Capitol Ave near Berryessa intersection .. so we want to stay close to them ..
Why did you say "A location like capitol Ave"? Did I miss something?

Regards.

[sjnative]

appx 60min in stop and go traffic seems realistic

so how often do u want/need to see your friends on capitol ave?

do u need to see them every day?

if not, i suggest you move/live as close to your worksite as possible to minimize your commute the misery of which will be maximized or minimized by its length

then you can easily drive to see your friends on the weekends as well as weeknights after rush hour as most such traffis is minimal and easily circimvented by checking traffic conditions in your smartphone

to give you perspective, the silicon valley is not that big and a traffic-free/light auto trip from palo alto to alum rock takes maybe 20min

thus i strongly suggest you live as close to work in palo alto as possible

[never-more]

Originally Posted by googlietdr

Hi,

Thanks for letting me know .. 50-70min one-way is a lot of travel time .. hmmm ..

Our close friends live on Capitol Ave near Berryessa intersection .. so we want to stay close to them ..
Why did you say "A location like capitol Ave"? Did I miss something?

Regards.

Never mind that, I was thinking of Capitol & McKee. A few years ago, I remembered reading on here that some user's apartment had been repeatedly buglarized and they warned people against moving there. Berryessa is a decent area, pretty safe, and distinguishes itself from East San Jose. Average schools, average sprawl housing, average everything. Do you wish to avoid living by the light rail line due to the noise? I still think you should try to live closer to Palo Alto, as long commutes are never good on your stress levels. Maybe Milpitas (only about 5-8minutes from where your friend lives if you stick by 680.)
Using VTA express buses might ease the stress a bit if your firm on staying close to your friend. There is express route 104 from Pentiencia Creek Transit Center to Palo Alto. Only two trips in each direction though.
This thread might be helpful to you:
https://www.city-data.com/forum/san-j...berryessa.html

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Can you stay with your friends some weeknight and try out the commute? I just really think you'll be miserable in that traffic every day.

[googlietdr]

Thanks very much for your inputs. Yeah, we have good old friends living there and we would pretty much like to hang-out everyday.
Based on your feedback, commute seems to be a killer. Will look at other options. Thanks.

[never-more]

Originally Posted by googlietdr

Thanks very much for your inputs. Yeah, we have good old friends living there and we would pretty much like to hang-out everyday.
Based on your feedback, commute seems to be a killer. Will look at other options. Thanks.

You still have the express bus option if you choose to live there.