How Bad is Traffic on Mercer Island? (Seattle, Bellevue: home, neighborhoods)

[RunTheDistance476]

Not I-90, but in the actual town. I have never had a chance to get to drive through there to see it for myself. Is this traffic really bad to drive anywhere but the interstate?

[Hemlock140]

On the island it's only rough during commute time by the Park & Ride near the I90 ramps, or if you get stuck behind a school bus. Otherwise it's a breeze compared to Bellevue and other areas.

[RunTheDistance476]

Like I mentioned in a couple of other threads, I am taking a position at Boeing inside Seattle (SODO), and I am trying to stay close to Seattle but not in Seattle, because I don't want traffic every time I want to go to the grocery store or go out to eat, etc. I never considered Mercer Island before, because I always thought it would be way too expensive for me. However, I am looking online and figuring out that this is not the case. Only being ~6-7 miles from downtown Seattle is also a HUGE PLUS. I am only looking to spend about $2000 a month on a one bedroom...and apparently I can get some nice rooms on MI.

[Hemlock140]

On the other hand, you will have to go into either Seattle or Bellevue a lot of things, not much in the way of shopping/entertainment on MI. As far as I know there is a QFC and an Albertsons for groceries, maybe two gas stations and a handful of restaurants.

[Inkpoe]

Honestly, your best bet for not dealing with a whole lot of traffic coming to Boeing Field/Sodo would be coming from the South, not the north or east. Its not traffic on Mercer Island you should be worried about, its the traffic on the i5 ramp from i90 that's the pain in the butt. If you try to use surface streets, especially during rush-- lots of stop and go traffic.

Traffic on Mercer Island isn't even a big deal; the only real gripe is when someone lives at the very southern tip of MI, it's quite a drive to get off. I can see however the annual Blue Angels visit being annoying though (when all traffic gets stopped in Mercer Island)-- but thats only for a short time for a week or so.

[eskercurve]

If your big issue will be traffic and you think MI will allow you to avoid traffic going to work, boy have you got some research to do!

If you're working near SODO, then most likely you're working in the labs or flight test. If you're in flight test, boy I feel for you. Those guys have odd hours and many work crazy overtime and they also have the highest divorce rates in the company. Things aren't so bad now that the 787 and 747-8 have been certified, but there'll be hell in 2016-2020 when the 737MAX and the 777-X are flight tested.

Anyway, traffic is a bear on I-90 in the morning as you merge onto I-5 south, that can delay you up to 30 minutes. No joke. Now you could play it smart and get off near the stadiums and take Airport way south and save some time that way. I used to do that all the time when I used to live on MI and had to go south for labs or flight test.

Coming home is no joy either. You can take airport way north up to some point south of the stadiums and take 4th ave entrance to I-90, but you'll still hit traffic from folks in both directions of I-5 merging.

And don't count on the HOV "I live on MI so I'm special just like Paul Allen and can take them even though I'm a single occupant" rule forever. Light rail will be coming and wipe those out and the rule out as well, probably around 2016. Even before then there'll be construction, so it'll be a short term benefit that thing will be.

I would suggest West Seattle, and I know a lot of guys who work there live further south, like in Auburn. The city on the south end isn't as "nice" and especially around SODO and the Boeing facilities around there, the neighborhoods are not as aesthetically pleasing (to each their own, I'd love living in or near

[tobester]

Originally Posted by wlw2009

I am trying to stay close to Seattle but not in Seattle, because I don't want traffic every time I want to go to the grocery store or go out to eat, etc.

Have you ever been to Seattle? - in many neighborhoods, you can walk to grocery stores and walk to restaurants - not possible on Mercer Island. I live in South Seattle and work at the Development Center - 12 minutes each way - surface streets, no traffic.