I admit it - Driving home tonight in horrible traffic...... (Austin: movers, maintenance)

[Exiled Texan]

I thought about coming here and posting nothing but nasty stuff about Austin. Where is Inthecut when you need a bad guy.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Oh let it out! Better for your BP.

Besides, there is always artsyguy and eepstein.

[soIndecisive]

What do you call horrible traffic? can you give us a rough distance and how long it took? I'm in the SF bay area and we get some serious congestion here too. Just trying to get a feel for what's considered "horrible traffic" in your area.

[atxcio]

I'm curious too. Was it during the typical rush hour, 4:30-6:30PM?

I know it was either I35 or Mopac. Those are the only two highways with significant congestion in Austin, mostly because of inadequate bridges across the river. Maybe 360, too.

[Exiled Texan]

Enfield/Mopac around 5:40. Took 40 minutes when it usually takes 10 without traffic. I live super central too, never go north of 2222 or south of the river lake.

I know colleagues who live in a burb, easily have over an hour commute. Many come to work before 8 and leave around 4 to avoid the brunt of it.

If you guys keep moving here, it is just going to get worse. Austin does not have the political will or the geographic ability to fix the infrustructure problem.

I'll only allow you to come if you telecommute.

Usually, traffic dies down after 6. Definitely 6:30 assuming no accidents. 4:30-5:30 is not always fun.

[atxcio]

As a personal rule, I won't get on Mopac or I35 during the 4:30 to 6:30pm timeframe. There is no reason for it, especially if you live central. Save yourself the trouble.

[soIndecisive]

Who said I was moving here...
Just for reference, I have a 16-mile commute and it takes me about 35-45min everyday. Morning around 9am and evening around 6pm.

[bgrn198]

Originally Posted by atxcio

I'm curious too. Was it during the typical rush hour, 4:30-6:30PM?

I know it was either I35 or Mopac. Those are the only two highways with significant congestion in Austin, mostly because of inadequate bridges across the river. Maybe 360, too.

360 isn't that bad except at rush hour

[bluesboy63]

Is traffic typically worse heading in a certain direction? I know that living here in Reno our issues are minimal but I go home heading south cruising 75 MPH the whole way no problem. The people heading north on the other hand are in a traffic jam as far as the eye can see. I've always based where I live in town on that. Is Austin similar but obviously on a much larger scale? Also living on the outskirts, everything we need on a daily basis is right around the corner. The only time we go downtown is on the weekends for some fun when traffic issues are much less.

[hound 109]

.....Austin does not have the political will or the geographic ability to fix the infrustructure problem.

Hey...wait a minute. They have a brand new choo choo that runs out to a shopping mall & on out to an ice rink in a corn field.


But seriously.....why should the people in Austin proper pay for "infrastructure" needs caused by newbies & folks in the burbs....so newbies & folks in the burbs can get to & fro more easily??

For the life of me, I don't understand why any new roof top doesn't have a one time "infrastructure tax" (collect it along with the 12-25K that the realtors make).....to help PAY for the building of infrastructure that THEY are creating a need for.

...& then continue to tax everyone (like they do now) for the maintenance of it.

Now THAT would be out of the box, creative thinking. (Getting people who are causing the problem to actually pay for it...)

But it's way too logical & not paradigm shifting enough for the F1 lovin', Saab driving... movers & shakers of Austin.....so I'm not holding my breath.