Commuting Advice from Eastside locations into Renton, WA 98057 (Seattle, Bellevue: apartment, for rent)

[twopoint4]

I am looking for some advice on Commuting into the Renton, WA 98057 area near Black River forest. My office will be in this location. I will be relocating with my family including Two kids

We are looking in the Renton, Maple Valley, Kent, Covington and Auburn areas. The need for decent schools and relatively normal pricing for rent plays a big factor.

My work hours will be Monday through Friday, In early around 6.30-7am and Leave around 5.30 or so. My office location seems to be nestled between the I5/405 but for the eastside locations we are looking to move too wouldn’t 169 or 167 be the best option? How bad do these route gets backed up? I figured I could hopefully avoid most of it in the AM commute but would be in the mix going home. How bad am I looking in terms of commute times? Is 169 any better than 167?

Our preference is Maple Valley OR Auburn. Is there even a commuter option from these areas into Renton, I know the sounder train from Auburn can get you into Downtown Seattle.

I would even consider Puyallup or Bonney due to the decent schools but I think Traffic could be awful even though its only 10 miles further than the other locations.

Thanks

[GraceKrispy]

A friend who lives in Auburn was over yesterday, and we were talking about what a parking lot 167 is during anything resembling rush hour. I have less personal experience with it, but have driven it a few times during afternoon rush hour and it was awful. The backup just to get on 167 going south was really long. To me, it felt worse than I-5, which is bad enough. (The frontage road that ran along most of the highway seemed to have little to no traffic, however.) My friend said it is always like that and she absolutely hates having to drive on it.

Far more knowledgable and experienced people will weigh in and give you better information, but since we were just discussing the Auburn/Renton drive on 167, I thought I'd share that.

[Hemlock140]

All routes in the area are backed up every day, bad in the morning, terrible in the afternoon. The worst I have found to be I405 between Bellevue and Renton, 2nd is 167. It does have a toll lane that you can use to breeze through but it will cost you. Using 169 is a better option but not much. Your morning commute will be just as the backup starts, not nearly as bad as 6:30-7 and later. The train doesn't stop in Renton, but there is bus service all around. You might just have to drive to a park & ride as I do and may have a short walk at the Renton end. When you consider a house/apartment, plug in the address, the work address and time of day to see the routes and times. Sound Transit has mostly "express" buses for commuters with fewer stops.

King County Metro Transit Trip Planning
Trip Planner - SoundTransit

[Inkpoe]

169 does get backed up very well, it got to the point I'd forgo the 169 option and use Petrovitsky Rd or 192nd instead. If your job is nestled between i5 and 405, you probably could get by without using 167/169 with the Maple Valley, Covington.

As for the Sounder Commuter, from Auburn to Renton, you could get off at the Tukwila Station, but that leaves an issue how to get from the station to your work. It's roughly 2 miles... I suppose you could bike the rest of the way?

[twopoint4]

[quote=Inkpoe;36260601]169 does get backed up very well, it got to the point I'd forgo the 169 option and use Petrovitsky Rd or 192nd instead. If your job is nestled between i5 and 405, you probably could get by without using 167/169 with the Maple Valley, Covington.

There is viable surface street options between these locations? When i say viable i mean will the 18 - 20 mile commute be within an hour traveling time?

My office location is about a block from the 405 and a mile or 2 east of the I-5

[twopoint4]

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

All routes in the area are backed up every day, bad in the morning, terrible in the afternoon. The worst I have found to be I405 between Bellevue and Renton, 2nd is 167. It does have a toll lane that you can use to breeze through but it will cost you. Using 169 is a better option but not much. Your morning commute will be just as the backup starts, not nearly as bad as 6:30-7 and later. The train doesn't stop in Renton, but there is bus service all around. You might just have to drive to a park & ride as I do and may have a short walk at the Renton end. When you consider a house/apartment, plug in the address, the work address and time of day to see the routes and times. Sound Transit has mostly "express" buses for commuters with fewer stops.

King County Metro Transit Trip Planning
Trip Planner - SoundTransit

Thank you for the Links.

Upto $9 to use the toll lane.. Ouch, That would add up quickly!!

[Ira500]

So if you want good schools, a commute not too horrible to the Black River Park area, and fairly reasonable rents, what about:
1. The part of Renton in the Kent school district where the kids go to either Northwood or Ridgewood Elementary schools? Back road options are available, and those schools are great.
2. Kennydale, in Renton. Renton has a lot of pretty bad/mediocre schools, but Kennydale's really good. Maplewood Heights is also within the Renton district and is a great school.
3. That part of the eastern Renton Highlands within the Issaquah School district, and also the nearby city of Newcastle.

Metro now has the Rapid Ride F? Line, from Burien to Renton. It has a stop at the Tukwila Sounder station, and comes pretty close to the Black River office buildings area. Metro also runs the 143 route from Maple Valley into Seattle, and stops in Renton. There are Metro buses from Auburn to Renton also, but I forget the route number( 167? 169?). I live in Renton and used to take the 143 into Seattle. Friendly folks on the bus from Maple Valley.

[Ira500]

[quote=twopoint4;36260950]

Originally Posted by Inkpoe

169 does get backed up very well, it got to the point I'd forgo the 169 option and use Petrovitsky Rd or 192nd instead. If your job is nestled between i5 and 405, you probably could get by without using 167/169 with the Maple Valley, Covington.

There is viable surface street options between these locations? When i say viable i mean will the 18 - 20 mile commute be within an hour traveling time?

My office location is about a block from the 405 and a mile or 2 east of the I-5

Driving time from Maple Valley (depending on where in Maple Valley) to Black River via Petrovitsky will usually take 35-45 minutes. Petrovitsky gets busy too, but not standstill busy like 405 or 167. 169 is a little better than 167 at rush hour, but still should be avoided if possible.

[twopoint4]

[quote=Ira500;36261283]

Originally Posted by twopoint4

Driving time from Maple Valley (depending on where in Maple Valley) to Black River via Petrovitsky will usually take 35-45 minutes. Petrovitsky gets busy too, but not standstill busy like 405 or 167. 169 is a little better than 167 at rush hour, but still should be avoided if possible.

Thank you for your very informative information. I would like to live in Renton in the Kent school district. I may get lucky but the cost in rent seems alot more from our research.

35-45 Minute commuting for me would be very tolerable to fine., I currently spend an hour in Rush hour here driving 35 miles and have been doing so for years