Metrorail from north (howard/lakeline) to downtown? (Austin, Cedar Park: 2015, how much)

[patra04]

Hello Folks,

I will be relocating to Austin from NY this spring.

My work place is going to be near the downtown metro station. I have been looking at neighborhoods near downtown and also the suburbs to avoid the traffic and commute issues. Going through the threads here I get the common theme of avoiding I-35 if possible.

Here are some things/preferences about us:

1) Young south asian family with 2 kids (5 and 1).
2) Want to avoid long commute times and I hate driving.
3) Want to stick to north side as it seems to be closer to ethnic stores/restaurants/communities etc.
4) Would prefer suburbs over city (especially for kids).

Questions:

1) Am I crazy in thinking metro rail commute to downtown from howard/lakeline is a good option? I love biking and read that metrorail is bike friendly. How practical is it to get on metrorail with your bike?
2) Any other areas you recommend?

Thanks for your time and help.

[scm53]

patra, you have the makings of a great plan. Eminently do-able. There is a limit on the number of bikes on MetroRail -- a regular rider like Riaelise can tell you if it fills up, and how quickly.

Another option is Austin's bike share, called B Cycle. I've seen a couple of stations near the downtown MetroRail station. Again, a regular rail rider is better able to tell you if they go quickly or not -- also, need to make sure there is a station near where you work to drop it off once you get to work.

Again, great plan. Think you are on the right track. (pun intended)

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by patra04

Hello Folks,

I will be relocating to Austin from NY this spring.

My work place is going to be near the downtown metro station. I have been looking at neighborhoods near downtown and also the suburbs to avoid the traffic and commute issues. Going through the threads here I get the common theme of avoiding I-35 if possible.

Here are some things/preferences about us:

1) Young south asian family with 2 kids (5 and 1).
2) Want to avoid long commute times and I hate driving.
3) Want to stick to north side as it seems to be closer to ethnic stores/restaurants/communities etc.
4) Would prefer suburbs over city (especially for kids).

Questions:

1) Am I crazy in thinking metro rail commute to downtown from howard/lakeline is a good option? I love biking and read that metrorail is bike friendly. How practical is it to get on metrorail with your bike?
2) Any other areas you recommend?

Thanks for your time and help.

If I worked downtown, this is exactly what I'd do. For full disclosure, two possible caveats:

1. The rail system does get very crowded at peak times.
2. Because of 1, they're about to start a huge expansion (buy almost double the number of trains, double the peak frequency, greatly expand the downtown station). All of which is definitely needed, but I'm not sure what CapMetro's plans are to prevent service disruptions during the expansion. As I said, I'd still do it myself and suffer through it, as it's the way to go long-term.

[patra04]

Thanks scm and novacek for the quick feedback.

[RunninJT]

1. A metro rail from that area would be awesome but don't hold your breath, seriously. Austin had a uphill battle getting what it has now in place and it not as useful as they had hoped. Due to the cost of property in Austin and the general aversion Texas has with imminent domain, any tracked transit system that would have to be installed in not already tracked territory is very unlikely to be built. Toll Roads yes, public transit no.

2. If you were waiting a year or two I would say to keep an eye on the North East side of Austin. There is a LOT of land development that looks like it is just now kicking off on Cameron road and since the relocation of the homeless camps in that area there is a possibility that they are going to start up even more construction. It's possible that the worst areas in North East Austin may be getting gentrified in the next few years which would send the property value soaring. Right now for Austin it is dirt cheap by comparison. In another 10 years it could be a despotic slum or revitalized like east 11th. Keeping our fingers crossed.

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by RunninJT

1. A metro rail from that area would be awesome but don't hold your breath, seriously.

?

Uh, you mean like the _existing_ metrorail commuter line that runs from lakeline/howard down to the downtown station?

http://www.capmetro.org/rail-stations/

[Sam.adams33]

Originally Posted by RunninJT

1. A metro rail from that area would be awesome but don't hold your breath, seriously. Austin had a uphill battle getting what it has now in place and it not as useful as they had hoped. Due to the cost of property in Austin and the general aversion Texas has with imminent domain, any tracked transit system that would have to be installed in not already tracked territory is very unlikely to be built. Toll Roads yes, public transit no.

2. If you were waiting a year or two I would say to keep an eye on the North East side of Austin. There is a LOT of land development that looks like it is just now kicking off on Cameron road and since the relocation of the homeless camps in that area there is a possibility that they are going to start up even more construction. It's possible that the worst areas in North East Austin may be getting gentrified in the next few years which would send the property value soaring. Right now for Austin it is dirt cheap by comparison. In another 10 years it could be a despotic slum or revitalized like east 11th. Keeping our fingers crossed.

Hi. Yeah. Welcome to 2015.

There's actually THE MetroRail that runs from Leander to the Convention Center. It exists.

[Sam.adams33]

Originally Posted by Novacek

If I worked downtown, this is exactly what I'd do. For full disclosure, two possible caveats:

1. The rail system does get very crowded at peak times.
2. Because of 1, they're about to start a huge expansion (buy almost double the number of trains, double the peak frequency, greatly expand the downtown station). All of which is definitely needed, but I'm not sure what CapMetro's plans are to prevent service disruptions during the expansion. As I said, I'd still do it myself and suffer through it, as it's the way to go long-term.

To add to this:

Lakeline is the way to go right now - improved frequency will help Howard, from a crowding standpoint.

The issue is parking/access and the rest of what you're looking for. Lakeline will guarantee you a seat right now for the 40 minute ride to the downtown stop, where you can leave your bike or park is determined by two things

1. Budget - can you afford to live close enough to the station to bike?
2. Timing - when do you have to be in the office?

I would also caution you into looking expressly into areas with high SE Asian population in the cedar park area right now. There has been a rash of burglaries targeting this population subset since Diwali last year - CPPD has done nothing to address this.

[patra04]

Thanks @SamAdams.

I think I should be able to afford something close to the station. As far as timing to be in the office is concerned, not a issue really. The office won't really care when I come/go as long as the work is getting done.

Thanks for the cautionary note about the burglaries in Cedar Park area. Will definitely keep that in mind. I am OK with any north area with good schools and good infrastructure especially for outdoor kids/adults activities (parks, playgrounds, bike/walk trails etc).

Any other areas which you folks can think of? From what I am reading rail commute seems like a reasonable option as of now.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by patra04

Any other areas which you folks can think of? From what I am reading rail commute seems like a reasonable option as of now.

Naah. You're on the right path. Depending on how much you want to spend, I'd start with the Brushy Creek area. The folks that live up there can point you after you say exactly what you are looking for in a place to live. But with what you've laid out so far, can't imagine that BC doesn't work, and work well.

Coach Rick, over to you!