Commuting from Dripping Springs (Austin, Round Rock: house, neighborhoods, construction)

[daphne16]

My family is considering a move to the Austin area, more specifically Highpointe/Belterra in Dripping Springs. The one problem is I would be working at the intersection of MO-PAC and 183. Google maps shows the drive to be around 24 miles and taking anywhere from 30-50 minutes.

Are those times accurate during rush hour?

Are there any shortcuts to bypass the Y (i.e. through Barton Creek Drive and the Capital of Texas Expressway)?

Do you see the highway system improving at all any time soon?

We love Dripping Springs and want to make this commute be as painless as possible, but I fear that may not be an option. Thanks for any and all feedback.

[PeacePlease]

A friend of mine, who lives in Dripping Springs, and works just north of your work on 183 tells me it take him easily an hour during rush hour. He leaves early... and usually the first one at work by 7AM. That cuts his travel by a good margin. Don't know about the opposite direction though. Him and his family love DP and don't want to move. Telecommuting for parts of the week for him is an option and does make it easier.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by daphne16

My family is considering a move to the Austin area, more specifically Highpointe/Belterra in Dripping Springs. The one problem is I would be working at the intersection of MO-PAC and 183. Google maps shows the drive to be around 24 miles and taking anywhere from 30-50 minutes.

Are those times accurate during rush hour?

Are there any shortcuts to bypass the Y (i.e. through Barton Creek Drive and the Capital of Texas Expressway)?

Do you see the highway system improving at all any time soon?

We love Dripping Springs and want to make this commute be as painless as possible, but I fear that may not be an option. Thanks for any and all feedback.

If you value your family time and your sanity, don't do it. The price of gas is just going to keep going up, up, up... There are plenty of DS look alike neighborhoods in North Austin.

[pwherman512]

My wife and I just bought a house in Highpointe- and let me assure you, there are zero neighborhoods in north Austin like Highpointe or Belterra. Just leave earlier for work! In the end, it will be worth it.

[Moonlady]

Are those times accurate during rush hour?
50 minutes or longer during rush hour.

Are there any shortcuts to bypass the Y (i.e. through Barton Creek Drive and the Capital of Texas Expressway)?
No, not at the present. There is a plan to expand 290 through Oak Hill, but it won't happen any time soon.

Do you see the highway system improving at all any time soon?
No, Austin is fairly notorious for dragging their feet on improving road infrastructure.

What is it that you like about Belterra? Honestly -I would seriously recommend looking at all your options before you lock yourself into that commute.

[Raskolnikov]

Those neighborhoods are great, but the commute would be utterly horrible. Do you have kids? You're robbing time they'd get to spend with you, to sit in the car in traffic.

I would look no further than southwest Austin, like Circle C. Also Travis Country is nice. Really it would be better to live in north Austin for commute, but, southwest Austin is better for kids in my opinion. Dripping is nice but it doens't have much of an advantage over southwest Austin.

[Driftwood1]

The problem that commute faces is twofold...
First, the "Y" at 290, is bad now, and when it goes under construction it will be horrible till it's done. Next. because you are going all the way up to 183/mopac the bottleneck (lanedrop) over the river kills you. My wife ran that for as long as she could stand it, and at 500pm, most days took 30-40 just to get back in to SW parkway, and theres no faster alternate.. 30 min to go 12 miles..
Austin will become divided... south or north of the river, and whatever side your work is, you best live up there IMHO
Harsh but true methinks
Cheers

[Raskolnikov]

I work on 6th street just north of the river but live in SW Austin. The commute isn't bad at all.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by pwherman512

My wife and I just bought a house in Highpointe- and let me assure you, there are zero neighborhoods in north Austin like Highpointe or Belterra. Just leave earlier for work! In the end, it will be worth it.

Ummm....you think? I can't imagine ANYPLACE, ok, maybe being George Clooney's roomie, that would keep me in traffic for 2 hours + a day. What's so great about it?? Tell!!
What about Steiner Ranch?

[LoveATX]

pwherman512 is right, there is no place like Belterra or Highpointe in North Austin. But only because no place up north has community propane and 600 dollar a month heating bills! Just a friendly jab Herman, but you gotta admit a comment like that deserves a little one. Most of us here love the location we have choosen to live at and will give the information that people are researching. I looked at Belterra and Highpointe but ultimately made the move North (Round Rock) for family and couldnt be happier.