Question about Seattle traffic

[upsciLLion]

So I'm thinking about getting an apartment here.

How long will it take me to get from there to downtown Bellevue (work) if I have to be there by 8 am every day? How much earlier would I have to leave to make a significant difference? Would it be better to take the bus? Any information or advice is welcome.

Thanks in advance!

 

[chrisms]

Ha, I'm moving to 21st AVE NE (greek row). To answer your question I don't know

 

[Orsorum]

8AM? You'd be fighting 520 traffic the whole way, but not as bad as evening rush hour; I can make it out to Woodinville in 20 minutes with little traffic, so you're probably good for 20 minutes driving. Where are you going in Bellevue? (would help figure out the bus route)

 

[KLin]

How bad is traffic in Seattle on sunday afternoons? I'm flying into Seattle this sunday, and driving to SE washington from seattle-tacoma intl.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: KLin
How bad is traffic in Seattle on sunday afternoons? I'm flying into Seattle this sunday, and driving to SE washington from seattle-tacoma intl.

From Sea-Tac you'll be fine for most of the trip, there aren't many bottlenecks I can think of from the SeaTac area to the Tri Cities (or Pullman...).

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: KLin
How bad is traffic in Seattle on sunday afternoons? I'm flying into Seattle this sunday, and driving to SE washington from seattle-tacoma intl.

You're fine. Traffic (I-5 at least) is usually only bad in one direction during rush hours.

 

[jagec]

I used to live there:Q

I think they fired the bad manager, though. You should be fine. What floor are you on?

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: jagec
I used to live there:Q

I think they fired the bad manager, though. You should be fine. What floor are you on?

:Q He's stalking you. :Q

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
8AM? You'd be fighting 520 traffic the whole way, but not as bad as evening rush hour; I can make it out to Woodinville in 20 minutes with little traffic, so you're probably good for 20 minutes driving. Where are you going in Bellevue? (would help figure out the bus route)

Umm, I'm not exactly sure. The company I'm interning with will be in Redmond for a couple weeks whiel I'm working there then moving to Bellevue. The woman in HR with whom I spoke said that they are located near one of the bus stations, so she suggested taking the bus since the company reimburses its employees for bus passes.

Would the trip home be bad if work ends at 4:30?

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: jagec
I used to live there:Q

I think they fired the bad manager, though. You should be fine. What floor are you on?

:Q He's stalking you. :Q

There IS hope of me getting laid this summer.



I haven't applied there yet. I'm speculating. A friend of mine is living there. He's interning with Safeco, so he basically gets to walk to work.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: Orsorum
8AM? You'd be fighting 520 traffic the whole way, but not as bad as evening rush hour; I can make it out to Woodinville in 20 minutes with little traffic, so you're probably good for 20 minutes driving. Where are you going in Bellevue? (would help figure out the bus route)

Umm, I'm not exactly sure. The company I'm interning with will be in Redmond for a couple weeks whiel I'm working there then moving to Bellevue. The woman in HR with whom I spoke said that they are located near one of the bus stations, so she suggested taking the bus since the company reimburses its employees for bus passes.

Would the trip home be bad if work ends at 4:30?

In my experience 520 west during evening rush hour isn't too bad. 520 is especially one-sided depending on whether its morning or evening.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: jagec
I used to live there:Q

I think they fired the bad manager, though. You should be fine. What floor are you on?

:Q He's stalking you. :Q

There IS hope of me getting laid this summer.



I haven't applied there yet. I'm speculating. A friend of mine is living there. He's interning with Safeco, so he basically gets to walk to work.

Ahaha, I thought about trying to intern with Safeco over the summer, I could've walked a mile to work through the U District. Looks like I'll be downtown this summer though.

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: Orsorum
8AM? You'd be fighting 520 traffic the whole way, but not as bad as evening rush hour; I can make it out to Woodinville in 20 minutes with little traffic, so you're probably good for 20 minutes driving. Where are you going in Bellevue? (would help figure out the bus route)

Umm, I'm not exactly sure. The company I'm interning with will be in Redmond for a couple weeks whiel I'm working there then moving to Bellevue. The woman in HR with whom I spoke said that they are located near one of the bus stations, so she suggested taking the bus since the company reimburses its employees for bus passes.

Would the trip home be bad if work ends at 4:30?

In my experience 520 west during evening rush hour isn't too bad. 520 is especially one-sided depending on whether its morning or evening.

So since I'm leaving Seattle in the morning and going back to Seattle in the evening it shouldn't be too bad?

 

[Mo0o]

It would be smart to bus. By bus, the 271 takes you there in about 20 minutes during rush hour.

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: Orsorum
8AM? You'd be fighting 520 traffic the whole way, but not as bad as evening rush hour; I can make it out to Woodinville in 20 minutes with little traffic, so you're probably good for 20 minutes driving. Where are you going in Bellevue? (would help figure out the bus route)

Umm, I'm not exactly sure. The company I'm interning with will be in Redmond for a couple weeks whiel I'm working there then moving to Bellevue. The woman in HR with whom I spoke said that they are located near one of the bus stations, so she suggested taking the bus since the company reimburses its employees for bus passes.

Would the trip home be bad if work ends at 4:30?

In my experience 520 west during evening rush hour isn't too bad. 520 is especially one-sided depending on whether its morning or evening.

So since I'm leaving Seattle in the morning and going back to Seattle in the evening it shouldn't be too bad?

Driving would take about ~40 minutes each way. Atleast Belleve --> U District during full rush hour

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion
I haven't applied there yet. I'm speculating. A friend of mine is living there. He's interning with Safeco, so he basically gets to walk to work.

It's actually one of the better apartment complexes in the U district. Get one of the north-facing apartments if you can, and preferably not on the top floor...it would get really hot. Parking on the street is fine during the summer, practically nonexistant during the school year so rent parking from Coho if you stay there over the school year. Take pictures of the place when you move in on the off chance the bad manager is still there...they screwed us on the damage deposit even though we left the apartment cleaner than we moved in.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: KLin
How bad is traffic in Seattle on sunday afternoons? I'm flying into Seattle this sunday, and driving to SE washington from seattle-tacoma intl.

Unless you have to blaze along at 80, take SR410 Chinook Pass. The view of the mountain is worth it. Rainier is so close you think you could touch it.
I drive that way to Yakima any time I can, and it saves me about 15 minutes from the south end, vs. I-90. It is a good 30 miles shorter for me, but slower driving.
From Seatac, take I-5 south to SR18, East on SR18 to SR167, south on 167 to SR410.

 

[Vic]

Nice area to live in if you don't mind your car getting constantly stolen/vandalized.

 

[trulfe]

is the West Seattle area a bad area to live?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: trulfe
is the West Seattle area a bad area to live?

No. West Seattle is pretty nice (parts with Puget Sound or Elliot Bay/downtown view are VERY nice). The area in the OP's question is the "U-District."

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Vic
Nice area to live in if you don't mind your car getting constantly stolen/vandalized.

Drive a beater, problem solved.

 

[upsciLLion]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Vic
Nice area to live in if you don't mind your car getting constantly stolen/vandalized.

Drive a beater, problem solved.

1992 Ford Ranger 4x4 a target?

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Vic
Nice area to live in if you don't mind your car getting constantly stolen/vandalized.

Drive a beater, problem solved.

1992 Ford Ranger 4x4 a target?

Naw, there'll be nicer cars around for people to screw with.

 

[jacob0401]

that is right on bus 271 route which will take you directly to belllevue downtown. it is probably the best option. commuting either direction on 520 sucks in the morning, coming back at 4:30 should be not too bad.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: upsciLLion

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: Vic
Nice area to live in if you don't mind your car getting constantly stolen/vandalized.

Drive a beater, problem solved.

1992 Ford Ranger 4x4 a target?

With or without optional peener flap exhaust pipe mounting brackets?