Pre-pandemic levels of traffic commuting to Chamblee area? (Atlanta, Dunwoody: 2013, apartments)

[AlligatorDentist]

This is kind of specific to an area, but I'll be relocating soon for a job near PDK airport in Chamblee and was wondering how is the traffic from different areas? I tried looking at Google Maps but I think they are estimating pandemic-era reduced commute times since all roads are always all green. I'm currently looking at apartments either:

1) Along Peachtree Rd between Town Brookhaven and North Buckhead

2) The very very north end of Brookhaven just below the I-285 where there's a cluster of hospitals.

These would all be 4-5 mile commutes, but not sure from what I've read that even that distance would be a 10-15 minute drive.

Thanks!

[BobbyJayATL]

Google maps commute estimates seem FAIRLY accurate if you go by the longest window of time; I'm very acquainted with a northern suburb commute (a lot further out than you're looking) into Chamblee and it seems pretty accurate.

Generally of the two you're looking at, #1 would probably be best, keeping in mind that both of the areas you mention have a bit of traffic of their own; Pill Hill (where all those hospitals are) gets jammed up in particular along Peachtree Dunwoody and Glenridge - where each cross/intersect 285 and 400 respectively and where they intersect each other. If you had to traverse that area rather than starting on the Chamblee side of it, it could add 10 minutes each direction.

In the Lenox area, there are lots of highrises/jobs basically lining Peachtree from Atlanta city limits all the way to Piedmont Road, and then along Lenox road from Piedmont Road to East Paces/Lenox MARTA.

So again it's a matter of how much of that you'd have to traverse or drive through. Peachtree will occasionally backup southbound at Lenox even in the PM, so you could get stuck in that some, though I would think nearly every morning drive would be pretty smooth.

[Citykid3785]

I am not familiar with that specific commute, so I'll let others comment on that.

Only wanted to say that I have historically found Waze to be a much more accurate predictor of my commute than Google Maps, which gives a VERY wide range of times. Oftentimes I would turn on both at the start of my commute, and WAZE would anticipate when traffic would get worse as the commute progressed, whereas Google would not and thus the initial time would usually be slightly understated.

[markjames68]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

I am not familiar with that specific commute, so I'll let others comment on that.

Only wanted to say that I have historically found Waze to be a much more accurate predictor of my commute than Google Maps, which gives a VERY wide range of times. Oftentimes I would turn on both at the start of my commute, and WAZE would anticipate when traffic would get worse as the commute progressed, whereas Google would not and thus the initial time would usually be slightly understated.

I’ve noticed the same, which is a bit odd since Google has owned Waze since 2013. You’d think they’d integrate them.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by markjames68

I’ve noticed the same, which is a bit odd since Google has owned Waze since 2013. You’d think they’d integrate them.

It would probably take a massive overhaul between both apps making it infeasible, that or just not worth it besides the very basics that they have integrated such as notifications for speed traps, road work, ect. Easier to just keep two apps and continue to enhance the API's between the two seperately.

Waze is great for local commuting but not ideal for long distance trips due to the inability to set multiple destinations and the 800 mile limit (due to memory requirements). When I make my cross-country commutes between Austin and Atlanta I typically set all my fuel stops in between and I can't do that with Waze. Same for when I've driven from Atlanta to Seattle, San Fran, or Los Angeles. Waze cannot do those kinds of trips. When I take road trips with Waze, 400 miles seems to be the limit before it starts glitching or becomes unbearably slow or unresponsive or causes my device to run hot. Waze also seems to be designed around Facebook where as Google Maps is of course designed around Google, so integrating Waze into it may be a bit of a major overhaul. They are probably just designed too differently. My guess is Waze is probably more processor and RAM intensive than Google Maps is and becomes more exponential per added distance.

[BobbyJayATL]

Originally Posted by markjames68

I’ve noticed the same, which is a bit odd since Google has owned Waze since 2013. You’d think they’d integrate them.

Waze is much more politically controversial in some respects too; I imagine another reason to keep it separate.

In the US, lots of local law enforcement takes issue with the robust ability to report speed traps, and the much more fluid traffic avoidance in Waze that can detour through residential streets (though anecdotally at least, it seems threshholds have been adjusted and it takes in some cases full road closures before you're sent into residential areas).

And internationally, Israel-Palestine politics come in; Waze was an Israeli company before purchase, and initially became popular because it would efficiently and effectively direct you when driving through the West Bank in order that you could avoid Palestinian controlled areas if you so choose (most main roads are Israeli controlled).

But obviously anything in that part of the world runs the risk of being political (or worse).

[ATLTJL]

I think you'd be fine on Peachtree Road. Just keep it north of Roxboro/Wieuca.

I'd look in Lenox Park. I lived there for years and loved it. Easy access to Chamblee using the back way out and heading to Buford Hwy or Peachtree via N. Druid Hills depending on where you need to go. Also easy access to VaHi, midtown, etc.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by AlligatorDentist

This is kind of specific to an area, but I'll be relocating soon for a job near PDK airport in Chamblee and was wondering how is the traffic from different areas? I tried looking at Google Maps but I think they are estimating pandemic-era reduced commute times since all roads are always all green. I'm currently looking at apartments either:

1) Along Peachtree Rd between Town Brookhaven and North Buckhead

2) The very very north end of Brookhaven just below the I-285 where there's a cluster of hospitals.

These would all be 4-5 mile commutes, but not sure from what I've read that even that distance would be a 10-15 minute drive.

Thanks!

Lots of traffic lights and 2 lane roads.

Morning probably not much worse than now.

Afternoon, especially along Buford Hwy once you get past Clairmont, can get pretty backed up. Haven't really done the 285 trip from Chamblee in the afternoon, but 400 northbound is really bad, so I expect Johnson Ferry, etc. are pretty bad too.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by AlligatorDentist

This is kind of specific to an area, but I'll be relocating soon for a job near PDK airport in Chamblee and was wondering how is the traffic from different areas? I tried looking at Google Maps but I think they are estimating pandemic-era reduced commute times since all roads are always all green. I'm currently looking at apartments either:

1) Along Peachtree Rd between Town Brookhaven and North Buckhead

2) The very very north end of Brookhaven just below the I-285 where there's a cluster of hospitals.

These would all be 4-5 mile commutes, but not sure from what I've read that even that distance would be a 10-15 minute drive.

Thanks!

For the most part if you're along the Peachtree Corridor in North Buckhead or Brookhaven, the traffic into Chamblee in the morning is a breeze once you get past Dresden. In the afternoon, traffic is heavier back into Buckhead but not as bad as the traffic headed north.

Of course, you do have alternatives. The entire corridor from Doraville to North Buckhead has great MARTA coverage, so you could commute by train if you like. There is a bus that stops right in front of the main terminal for PDK, but it is also walking distance from Chamblee station.

Edit: Also, Chamblee has seen a huge boom in upscale apartments over the last few years at a lower price than you'd find in Brookhaven and Buckhead. It's quite the hot spot at the moment. You might do well to just live in Chamblee. Buckhead, Brookhaven, and the rest of the City are still well within reach so you wouldn't miss out on much and there is plenty to do locally.