Is traffic around Boulder/Louisville really so bad? (Denver, Broomfield: home, restaurants)

[SunnyP]

Hi all,

I grew up in Boulder, but moved away about 14 years ago. I've been back to visit 5 or 6 times since (still have family there), and the area has changed a LOT over the years. The last time I was there (Christmas '04) I didn't even recognize the Louisville exit off of 36.

When I moved away traffic was getting heavier than it had ever been in the past, but it sounds like it's really bad now. Is that right?

We're moving back in a few months, and I'm wondering how bummed I'll be to see the place so over crowded.

Thanks!

[Neditate]

Well, it's certainly worse than it was 14 years ago. More people, more cars. The traffic on 36 during rush hours is startling (at least it is to me). When I worked in downtown Denver many years ago the traffic flow was in that direction in the morning, back to Boulder in the evening. Now it is the reverse.

[NickMan7]

Originally Posted by Neditate

Well, it's certainly worse than it was 14 years ago. More people, more cars. The traffic on 36 during rush hours is startling (at least it is to me). When I worked in downtown Denver many years ago the traffic flow was in that direction in the morning, back to Boulder in the evening. Now it is the reverse.

This is so true. The traffic is almost always stop and go from around Sheridan all the way into Boulder in the morning and it's just as heavy coming out of Boulder in the evening. On the contrary, the drive into Denver in the morning is only really slow from about Federal to I-25, unless the weather is poor, and usually flows quite well in the opposite direction during the evening commute.

[sumukru]

I think it all boils down to perspective; as in where you are moving from to get here. We find the traffic here to be a breeze - BUT we relocated from SoCal...

FWIW, when I go back to my original home in the midwest, I don't recognize a lot either. I think everyone that has left and goes back to their hometown experiences the same. There are just a lot more people, and a lot more ground to travel from work to home.

Good luck on your move back.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by SunnyP

Hi all,

I grew up in Boulder, but moved away about 14 years ago. I've been back to visit 5 or 6 times since (still have family there), and the area has changed a LOT over the years. The last time I was there (Christmas '04) I didn't even recognize the Louisville exit off of 36.

When I moved away traffic was getting heavier than it had ever been in the past, but it sounds like it's really bad now. Is that right?

We're moving back in a few months, and I'm wondering how bummed I'll be to see the place so over crowded.

Thanks!

As someone who grew up in Boulder, at least you won't be among those who are disillusioned when they visit because they are expecting that Boulder is a quaint, charming, mountain "town."

If you've observed the changes happening, as you say in your post, then you're already aware.

Is it really bad now? There hasn't been a sudden change that makes it really bad now; there's more traffic and congestion than there was 14 years ago, but it's not as if Boulder was bucolic then either.

[TrickiWoo]

Originally Posted by sumukru

I think it all boils down to perspective; as in where you are moving from to get here. We find the traffic here to be a breeze - BUT we relocated from SoCal...

FWIW, when I go back to my original home in the midwest, I don't recognize a lot either. I think everyone that has left and goes back to their hometown experiences the same. There are just a lot more people, and a lot more ground to travel from work to home.

Good luck on your move back.

I agree. We moved here from New York and the traffic here is nothing compared to Long Island rush hour where a 35 mile commute used to take me two hours. I think it depends on what you're used to.

[Julia Garbus]

We're thinking of moving to Broomfield, right off 36. My husband works at CU Boulder and leaves for work at 7-7:30 AM. How heavy is the traffic then? Someone told me it would take half an hour to get to CU but that sounds like a lot to me for that early.

[DressageRider]

Originally Posted by TrickiWoo

I agree. We moved here from New York and the traffic here is nothing compared to Long Island rush hour where a 35 mile commute used to take me two hours. I think it depends on what you're used to.

I agree too! We moved here from Boston, have worked in Manhattan, and my husband is from LA. Whenever people complain about traffic, I think, "Please, you don't know traffic."

Of course, I can't help but being irritable when it takes me 25 minutes to get from South Boulder to downtown after work. But it isn't *that* bad. It is doable.

Welcome back to the area!

[SunnyP]

Thanks everyone for your replies!

Thinking about it now, I also came out for a visit in Oct '06, so it's been about 3 years since my last trip.

Boulder wasn't all countryside when I left, but there was just about nothing at the Louisville exit off of 36. In fact, if I recall correctly, the summer I moved away was right around the time they built that Apple Bee's on McCaslin (is that still there?). There was a also a 7-11, with a gas station, a strip mall, and an A&W fast food place. That was about it.

The last time I was there I was simply amazed by all the shops and restaurants etc. Even though I'd seen the growth on previous trips I remember it in my mind as described above, so it just doesn't register. I guess that's the reason I didn't recognize the exit.

I think everyone would like their home town to stay just as they knew it, and never change, but life goes on. I have wanted to move back since the day I left. We considered giving life a try in one of the beautiful mountain states on the eastern side of the US (to try to stay closer to some of our other family), but in the end we decided to just move back home.
I can't wait!

Thanks again!

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Julia Garbus

We're thinking of moving to Broomfield, right off 36. My husband works at CU Boulder and leaves for work at 7-7:30 AM. How heavy is the traffic then? Someone told me it would take half an hour to get to CU but that sounds like a lot to me for that early.

That sounds about right. For one thing, you're looking at about a 15 mile trip, depending where in Broomfield to where at CU. You'd be smart to allow 30 min, at least at first.