What's it like to commute from Bedford to Boston?

[Billski]

Originally Posted by Jimbo21

Thanks everyone, but parking at Alewife isn't going to be a good option for at least a year or two - the wife and I both work at MGH, I have parking there, and we'll have our infant son in daycare at MGH in a few months. It just seems very difficult to commute by T with a baby.

Would it not be reasonable to drive 225 -> 2 -> Rindge Ave -> Somerville -> Kendall Sq -> Longfellow -> MGH? We live in Arlington now and drive this route (down Mass Ave to Porter), it takes us 30-35 min to get to MGH. How long would it take from Bedford?

One of the biggest bottlenecks is at the the Fresh pond rotary. Min 5-10 minute penalty. I don't think you can turn left onto Rindge from Fresh pond/rte. 2.

[Scriptkitten]

I always have two kids in the car with me so I'm never speeding. Like I said, it depends where you live. I am very close to rt 2 and I can get to 95 quickly via back roads.

I'm also talking about non-rush hours. When I go downtown on weeknights, I leave at 6pm to get to a 7:30pm class in the north end. I usually walk in to the building at 7:15.

[Jimbo21]

Originally Posted by Billski

I live in what's called "north" Lexington (near the Burlington Mall). At least one of my family members (including me) have commuted to the Longwood Medical area since 1995. Here's the deal.
1) Anyone who can get downtown in 25 minutes has perfect conditions and is big time speeding. It only takes me that long after about 9pm to 5am. Saturdays and Sundays AM until about 9 and only using the highways.
2) Anytime the roads get we (rain, snow, etc.) add 10-15 minutes to your commute.
3) There is a "witching hour" when the roads fill in heavily. From my house it's 6:50am. If we leave any later than that, add 15-30 mins to the commute.
4) Most optimal way do go during rush hour, for you, will be Rte 2 to Freshpond, down to Memorial Drive then cross over the Charles.
5) The fastest way in and out (optimal conditions) is Rte 128/95N to 93S. to Storrow drive in NON-rush hour traffic. I can get back from the airport in the middle of the night in about 28 minutes @speed limit. No way am I taking 93/128 during rush hour.
6) Mass Pike buys you nothing except more accidents.
7) There are ways to weasel around through Belmont and Watertown, but since they take longer, I save those routes for really bad traffic days.
10) BTW, the worst commute from hell we had was during a snowstorm when everyone left the city at once. 2 hours one way.

You mentioned commuter rail. That's a reasonable option, since commuter rail drops you right off at north station. That puts MGH about a five minute walk away. However your schedule and logistics would have to be fixed.

Thanks for all this great info. Thanks also to the other contributors.

[3cents]

Originally Posted by Billski

One of the biggest bottlenecks is at the the Fresh pond rotary. Min 5-10 minute penalty. I don't think you can turn left onto Rindge from Fresh pond/rte. 2.

Just rep you. You're right.
I work near the Alewife station, and during rush hours if you're only getting a 10 minutes delay, you're having one of those nice days. And you cannot turn into Rindge from Alewife after having just coming off Route 2.

I wonder whether the OP has found a house yet? If you need to stay north of Boston (as I recall, your wife has family there?), there really isn't much options for a budget of $600K.

[Billski]

Originally Posted by 3cents

there really isn't much options for a budget of $600K.

'cept maybe a condo. Saw one really nice setup, town-house-like on the grounds of an old Brookline estate, replete with parking on private grounds.

[Jimbo21]

Originally Posted by 3cents

I wonder whether the OP has found a house yet? If you need to stay north of Boston (as I recall, your wife has family there?), there really isn't much options for a budget of $600K.

Hey, I'm OP. No, we haven't found a house. I am not yet ready to accept a 1 hr commute from Bedford, which is probably our best prospect at the moment. I'll sit on my $250K cash until I find something that makes sense. Wife and I will continue renting in Arlington. I'm hoping for a nice crash in equities and/or housing. Someone just paid >$700K for half a house (i.e., 1 unit of a duplex) on my crappy congested street. That's insane. It has to stop at some point.

[Jimbo21]

Originally Posted by Billski

'cept maybe a condo. Saw one really nice setup, town-house-like on the grounds of an old Brookline estate, replete with parking on private grounds.

Yeah, I see those a lot, usually a duplex or triplex. I just can't fathom joint ownership of my home with 1 or 2 other people. Way too risky for me. And they're often 2 bed units, we're planning to need 3 beds.

[Cbridge]

Hello. Your post is great and very detailed. I am considering a commute from East Cambridge to Bedford, MA. Would you say it's unreasonable? I imagine the distance is comparable to Longwood Medical Center. Does it take about an hour without the snow and rain?