The suburbs (Katy) have more traffic congestion than the City limits (Houston: big house, neighborhood)

[Wasir]

Katy has way more traffic congestion problems than Houston does, it’s ridiculous. Going on Ih-10 west toward Katy there is way less traffic from Voss road to highway 6.

Outside of Highway 6 has so much more traffic than compared to inside the beltway.

Grand Parkway between Ih-10 and Westpark Tollroad has backups every single day no matter what time of day it is! I swear 99 has way more traffic problems than even 610 west loop!! Sugar Land doesn’t even have as much traffic as Katy. How do people living in Katy tolerate such a horrible commute? Are they really willing to sacrifice everything just for “good schools”?

There is never a smooth cruising ride on grand parkway in Cinco Ranch you always have to end up braking in traffic somewhere on 99. Driving in Katy is so annoying!

I really want to move to Energy Corridor I am getting fed up with the long Galleria to Katy commute and the annoying traffic. As if traffic on IH-10 wasn’t bad enough I have to end up dealing with traffic on Grand Parkway with all those suburban parents picking their kids up or taking them somewhere. Doesn’t any else living in Katy get annoyed by all this??

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by Wasir

Katy has way more traffic congestion problems than Houston does, it’s ridiculous. Going on Ih-10 west toward Katy there is way less traffic from Voss road to highway 6.

Outside of Highway 6 has so much more traffic than compared to inside the beltway.

Grand Parkway between Ih-10 and Westpark Tollroad has backups every single day no matter what time of day it is! I swear 99 has way more traffic problems than even 610 west loop!! Sugar Land doesn’t even have as much traffic as Katy. How do people living in Katy tolerate such a horrible commute? Are they really willing to sacrifice everything just for “good schools”?

There is never a smooth cruising ride on grand parkway in Cinco Ranch you always have to end up braking in traffic somewhere on 99. Driving in Katy is so annoying!

I really want to move to Energy Corridor I am getting fed up with the long Galleria to Katy commute and the annoying traffic. As if traffic on IH-10 wasn’t bad enough I have to end up dealing with traffic on Grand Parkway with all those suburban parents picking their kids up or taking them somewhere. Doesn’t any else living in Katy get annoyed by all this??

Look on the bright side, at least you don't live in the Woodlands!

Suburban traffic problems are an issue all over the country. It's the price you pay for a big house and good schools.

[descovy]

I live in Katy, but I work in Katy. And my husband works west of Katy (on the way out of the city)

The Galleria is a brutal drive from Katy. I get it if you were already in Katy and your employer relocated/you changed jobs to the Galleria. Things like that happen. But if you moved to Katy with a job already in the Galleria, you pretty much should have expected this.

You asked how people in Katy tolerate such a horrible commute. The answer is, not all of us have such a horrible commute. Some of us happen to live closer to work than you do.

Have you looked into Metro park & Ride or ride shares? For example I have friends who ride share from the local Kroger/Target parking lots. You might enjoy one of those options as well.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

Look on the bright side, at least you don't live in the Woodlands!

Suburban traffic problems are an issue all over the country. It's the price you pay for a big house and good schools.

The Woodlands is a rare, relatively well planned, Master "Planned" Community. They did a lot better job planning roads than Clear Lake City, Kingwood or First Colony. Nasa 1 (although its better now with the freeway), Kingwood Drive, Highway 6 and 1960 are all a mess even on weekends.

[Mr. Clutch]

Originally Posted by bu2

The Woodlands is a rare, relatively well planned, Master "Planned" Community. They did a lot better job planning roads than Clear Lake City, Kingwood or First Colony. Nasa 1 (although its better now with the freeway), Kingwood Drive, Highway 6 and 1960 are all a mess even on weekends.

Are you sure? I don't live up there, but nearly every time I've been there (primarily on the weekends) the traffic is terrible. I'll yield to those that live there but I've heard of it taking half an hour just to get to 45 from parts of the Woodlands during congested times. Doesn't sound like awesome planning to me.

[Redlionjr]

Originally Posted by bu2

The Woodlands is a rare, relatively well planned, Master "Planned" Community. They did a lot better job planning roads than Clear Lake City, Kingwood or First Colony. Nasa 1 (although its better now with the freeway), Kingwood Drive, Highway 6 and 1960 are all a mess even on weekends.

Woodlands have outgrown its master plan community. I live here and can tell you it’s pretty bad considering the only way to get out of Woodlands is through 45. So any road leading to 45 is heavily congested especially during rush hour. It’s pretty bad on Saturdays too.

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

Are you sure? I don't live up there, but nearly every time I've been there (primarily on the weekends) the traffic is terrible. I'll yield to those that live there but I've heard of it taking half an hour just to get to 45 from parts of the Woodlands during congested times. Doesn't sound like awesome planning to me.

Yeah it can if you live deeper in The Woodlands. To get anywhere out the city you have to eventually get on 45. Unless you take some back roads to drive through Spring/Klein and even that’s an adventure.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clutch

Are you sure? I don't live up there, but nearly every time I've been there (primarily on the weekends) the traffic is terrible. I'll yield to those that live there but I've heard of it taking half an hour just to get to 45 from parts of the Woodlands during congested times. Doesn't sound like awesome planning to me.

It takes a long time to get to town, but its a long way to town. And it gets congested going north to Conroe. I think they just didn't anticipate people commuting in from the north. But within The Woodlands, it does pretty well. That is what the OP was talking about. They can't control I-45. Whereas in Kingwood, it takes forever if you are close to Lake Houston in the back part of the neighborhood. It can take a long time getting to I-45 from Middlebrook in Clear Lake City.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by Redlionjr

Woodlands have outgrown its master plan community. I live here and can tell you it’s pretty bad considering the only way to get out of Woodlands is through 45. So any road leading to 45 is heavily congested especially during rush hour. It’s pretty bad on Saturdays too.



Yeah it can if you live deeper in The Woodlands. To get anywhere out the city you have to eventually get on 45. Unless you take some back roads to drive through Spring/Klein and even that’s an adventure.

Is Kuykendahl an adventure now? There's also the Hardy Toll Road. And Riley-Fussell if things really get bad.

[LocalPlanner]

I think most folks living in the outer suburbs know that traffic will be a huge part of their life. They're accepting of it, it just goes with the lifestyle. Including Saturday traffic, which can be just horrific, including on the surface thoroughfares.

Anyone who moves to the outer suburbs to "escape traffic" obviously has rocks in their head.

Most suburbs are designed to have traffic congestion at the earliest possible time in their development anyway, because they lack a fine-grained street grid so that residential areas can have "isolation". When traffic congestion is bad, things are just working as intended. If you live or work out there and this frustrates you, I don't see how you have a legitimate complaint.

[sonic0boom]

OP isn't even talking about the local roads in Katy. I don't know that they are any worse than elsewhere in Houston or other suburbs where there are busy intersections (well, obviously not based on some comments).

Hate to break it to you but that I-10 traffic ain't all Katy. Sure, move to the Energy Corridor and take I-10 from there. You'll have the same traffic, just not as far to drive. Grand Parkway is due for expansion in a couple years but until then, yup, it's a 2 lane road in both directions. But there are a number of ways to avoid it, if you must. And those suburban parents picking up their kids and taking them everywhere (what a menace!), I'm pretty sure they are avoiding 99 unless they need to get on it.

The lessons: 1) live close to your work if you want to avoid traffic; 2) this isn't a Katy-specific issue, so good luck finding something that works better for you.

Of course, #1 is easier said than done. But if you are looking for better schools and cheaper housing (vs in the loop more expensive housing and private school), see #2.