Question for Bay Area to Austin transplants

[paul6835]

I used to live in DC, I laugh when people tell me traffic here is bad. Its difficult to find a 30 mile path that would take you more than an hour during rush hour, let alone 2.

[jql999]

Those who complain about traffic and housing prices here never lived in CA - or at least SFBA.

I lived in Fremont and Hayward and commuted to Milpitas every day - the gap in the mass transit systems. Between 5AM and 7PM there were about 2, 30-minute windows where traffic was not stop and go. It would take at least 45 minutes to go 10 miles.

It only added insult to injury to be sitting in front of the giant sign declaring it was a "Spare the Air Day" telling me I should take public transit. (You know the one I mean!)

I live in SW Austin, and my experience with MOPAC is that the heavy traffic runs from about 7:30AM until 9, and 4:30PM to 7. And even 35 south at 5:30PM isn't that bad if you get on south of the stupid upper/lower split. It's bad for a stretch going through downtown and then lightens up.

I hear the traffic is worse from the Capital north - I don't have personal experience there.

That is unless there's some kind of accident or crisis that involves shutting down one of the freeways. Then all bets are off. Apparently traffic control is not part of APD's job - they just block off the streets and stand there until told to leave.