Best Routes - McKinney to Richardson (Dallas, Plano: 2010, houses, neighborhoods)

[canuckmom]

More specifically, we are considering a house at the south end of Stone Bridge Ranch (David Weekly Cascades). I think it is Custer at Stonebridge Ranch Dr. and hubby works on Lookout in Richardson for Samsung. Realtor thinks commute is "doable" - but I am not convinced!.

While hubby is definitely not a "nine to fiver" type anyhow, I am concerned about becoming a "work widow" - you know husband leaves at 6:00 am, returns at 8pm in order to avoid traffic and we never see him!

While I was in DFW area househunting last week, we did the drive bothways WITHOUT traffic - it was exactly 30 minutes from house to office. What can we expect WITH traffic?

Also found properties in west Allen - Waterford/ -Star Creek- area, -which seems to be a much better commute, but we really liked SBR!

Any thoughts on best routes from south SBR to Richardson? Is commute liveable?

Thanks...............

[stargazer]

The best thing to do imo is to go to 121 and go to 75... if the traffic is backed up, Highway 5 can be taken and so can Alma which I have done when avoiding traffic some of the way but at one point he will have to get back on 75.
... I feel like a widow too sometimes... I live about 1.5 miles from 75 off of El Dorado. My husband took a consultant job which gives him a better commute to where his assignment is right now and between assignments, he is home.. he is very grateful not having to go all the way down to Knox Henderson anymore.
Have you considered Garland or Richardson? Also some parts of Lucas and out by Lake Lavon are slotted for Wylie ISD.. I think I remember you asking about those areas or were looking at those areas by the lake... if not, sorry for the mix up.
If anyone else has a suggestion, if I have missed a way, please post.....
Many people live in Mckinney and work in Richardson.

[CallMeLaura]

We live in Stonebridge Ranch and it is a very nice area. You won't really find anything comparable, closer to Richardson. However, Garland has some nice older neighborhoods with the same 'quiet' feel to them. A shorter commute might be worth the trade off in houses, for you.

It looks like it's about 15 miles from Stonebridge Dr, which is not a horrible commute, though. 75 will be a pain, so I'd probably consider just taking Custer the whole way. More people are leaving earlier, to avoid the rush, but a 7-4 schedule should have one of the shortest commute times. The later he goes in, the longer it will take...

[nativeDallasite]

IMHO if you work south of Plano, avoid living in McKinney and more far-flung locations. 75 is a joke north of Allen, and it will only get worse once work gets underway to widen it. So far I haven't heard when or even if that will happen.

[scyogi]

Hi canuckmom,

I was in the ATL over Christmas visiting friends/family and the traffic is about the same in both towns. Someday it is great and the next you are pulling you hair out. We also live in SBR area. I do agree SBR has a 'prettier' feel than Waterford or Starceek. I think in a few years Starcreek is going to be lovely once they finish building and trees are muturing. I think the commute difference between Allen and living in SBR will only be about 15 minutes. I agree the commute from Mckinney will be hard but doable. The construction work on 75 is scheduled to be done by 2010 ( I think I just read that) I would compare 75 to 400 before they finished all the construction. The HOV lanes on 75were created by someone who clearly hates all mankind. They have barries so you can only enter at certain times and only exit at certain times. If there is a wreck in the HOV lanes I think it would be a NIGHTMARE for those commuters because you are stuck in those lanes with no way out. Good luck--we are 6 months post move and I feel my sanity has been restored!

[Dow Jones]

I drive that commute everyday. I'm at Eldorado and Custer at 9:00AM and I get to Lookout at exactly 9:25 as the lady that used to watch my kids lived there.

I don't know what the traffic is like earlier though.

[tulip66]

Hi Canuckmom --- we were in Dallas last week also doing our house hunting too. We were in town for 5 days. Looked all over the place. Still set on Fairview area. We really want the larger yard for the kids. We put in an
offer today on a home...hope we get it. I cant believe how many stores and restaurants are down that way...were not used to all the crowds. Also, I found it hard to know which town we were in unless I looked at the water towers.

Good luck to you and on making your decision.

Keep in touch...maybe we will cross paths one day when were both settled.

[canuckmom]

Originally Posted by tulip66

Hi Canuckmom --- we were in Dallas last week also doing our house hunting too. We were in town for 5 days. Looked all over the place. Still set on Fairview area. We really want the larger yard for the kids. We put in an
offer today on a home...hope we get it. I cant believe how many stores and restaurants are down that way...were not used to all the crowds. Also, I found it hard to know which town we were in unless I looked at the water towers.

Good luck to you on making your decision.

Keep in touch...maybe we will cross paths one day when were both settled.

Good to hear you found something! What school district did you end up at?

Is house in subdivision? Where will your husband be working?

Where else did you look? Supposedly, we were following another family around who were also house hunting and needed to make decision this past weekend - maybe it was you!!

Keep me posted - we are still working out details of our offer- really need to make sure the commute isn't a total nightmare. Hubby thinks it will be ok.

Although house of interest is in McKinney, schools are in Frisco. At first I viewed this as a negative, but now see Frisco schools are smaller, taxes lower - just wasn't sure which high school football team we would need to support!!

Good luck - feel free to send me a private message if you like with any updates!

[Mardrew]

You might want to try taking Lake Forest (which becomes Watters in Allen) to Stacy, then Taking Stacy to 75. This takes you right through Star Creek.

75 really starts turning NE after Stacy. 121 also goes North East so you are further North and Further East than if you really need to do.

However I do not have any experience with Rush hour in these areas. I use the Stacy/Watters/Lake Forest route to get from Fairview to the Walmart and Market Street in Mckinney.

[bricor]

I lived in Mckinney and moved to Waterford in Aug. I work in Richardson as well. The commute from Mckinney is awful. It would take me on average 45-55 minutes to get to work (work 7-4).
It takes me no more than 25 minutes now, even with traffic.
I take Bray Central and side roads up to Bethany, then stay on the service road until 15th, then jump right back off at Galatyn.
SBR as a whole is nice but I wouldn't overlook Waterford, Star Creek, or the new Toll Brothers community, especially because of the commute and proximity to everything.