Westpark Tollway, I-10, or 59 south (Houston, Katy: school, eat, pool)

[Kiovo]

Different industries/businesses have different needs. There are plenty that rather have their workers in early and get stuff done. The sooner the better. I deal with a lot of east coast associates and they're already an hour ahead by the time I get in. I can also log in from my laptop or phone if need be.

I actually find it therapeutic to drive in while its dark in the mornings, things seem quiet and its not as busy. Also get to the watch the sunrise most mornings. I think what's more depressing is with daylight savings, the ones that get off at 5, its dark by the time they get home.

[GTRdad]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

I actually find it therapeutic to drive in while its dark in the mornings, things seem quiet and its not as busy. Also get to the watch the sunrise most mornings.

I'd enjoy a few hours of sleep more and breakfast with kids. But thats just me

[Kiovo]

Originally Posted by GTRdad

I'd enjoy a few hours of sleep more and breakfast with kids. But thats just me

i get 6-7 hours of sleep, and I enjoy dinner with the kids and seeing them at their activities in the afternoon. but that's just me.

And the OP is asking about different commute routes to work at a certain time so if you don't have anything to add to that then you're going off topic.

[NTexas2010]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

i get 6-7 hours of sleep, and I enjoy dinner with the kids and seeing them at their activities in the afternoon. but that's just me.

And the OP is asking about different commute routes to work at a certain time so if you don't have anything to add to that then you're going off topic.

Agreed. I'd rather sit around the table and ask them how their day went at 4pm than fight the daily struggle to get them out of bed, out the door at 7:00am. One is much more pleasant than the other, IMO.

I too work the 5:30 - 2:30pm schedule. Home by 3pm, zero traffic on the Westpark to 99.

But to each his own.

[GTRdad]

LOL I get home right about dinner time. What time do you guys eat? 5pm?? 4pm? dang thats not normal

I think the #1 issue in Houston is this general understanding of what *normal* is. Everyone seem to just adjust to the new normal... like paying for expensive alarm/security systems and services, community pools + backyard pool scenarios, golf courses, crazy commutes and work hours etc

[NTexas2010]

Originally Posted by GTRdad

LOL I get home right about dinner time. What time do you guys eat? 5pm?? 4pm? dang thats not normal

5ish, sometimes 6pm. Early to bed, early to rise mentality.

I've done the 8-5 work day and with traffic, my commute goes from 20min to 45-50min each way. By working these (admittedly) earlier hours, I reduce my commute time 1 hour/day, 5 days week, 4.3 weeks/month, 12 months/year = 258 hours/year saved. I just created 10.75 days of free time at home.

It's like time travel without the DeLorean and Flux Capacitor.

[NTexas2010]

Originally Posted by GTRdad

I think the #1 issue in Houston is this general understanding of what *normal* is. Everyone seem to just adjust to the new normal... like paying for expensive alarm/security systems and services, community pools + backyard pool scenarios, golf courses etc

Sure, to a lot of people, especially those that live in the suburbs, that is a concept of normal.

My brother and sister in law work afternoons/nights though ITL; I'm waking up when they're going to bed. So normal is a perception, not necessarily a blanket reality. It just so happens to be that Houston has a large portion of people who perceive normal to be what you mentioned.

[hendersj31]

I am in the early group as well. I take 59 in from Sugarland and it is an easy commute to my office near the Galleria. Takes about 30 minutes and I am parked and at my desk in about 35 most days. I also get to get on my 550i a bit without too many people in the way. I normally get in around 6:45am.
Like others I get to spend the evening with my family and attend and coach my kids sports or go to mathnasium or some other event. That to me is priceless. Doesn't matter if I live right next to my office, if I were forced to work 9-5 i would probably seek employment elsewhere. Sure there are the times when i have to work all night but that is typically not normal so I don't mind when it happens.

Back to the question though...59 is pretty good between 6 and 7am. I drive it every day during that time.

[NTexas2010]

Yes, to address the OPs question... Two of these arterial freeways (I-10 and 59) serve hundreds of thousands of vehicles each day, and the Westpark has a very finite capacity for vehicles. All 3 become near parking lots the closer to 8am you get, I-10 probably being the worst of them and probably takes the longest to clear out (by 9am, Westpark is clear and 59 is moving fairly steadily minus the junctions at Sam Houston and farther down the road at 610.) You're better off leaving your house by 6am, work by 4pm if you plan on taking these routes out to/past 99.

[Trae713]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

I leave around 6am and i10 main lanes get backed up around Westgreen, all the way until after Dairy Ashford and then it opens up and it's pretty fluid after that all the way into downtown. Not sure why it bottlenecks in that section. I take the HOV/tollway so I do not deal with that backup, and my commute is only about 35 mins.

A couple reasons: it is where everyone in Katy is getting on the freeway, then many are getting off in the energy corridor, then I-10 gets another lane after Dairy Ashford (tollway exit to enter the freeway) which opens things up.