Train station parking in metrowest (Marlborough: home, construction, fence)

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by r_p

I have been taking the commuter rail from Natick/Wellesley to Back Bay since 2015 and 90% of the time the trains have been on time. These days you are pretty much guaranteed a parking spot at most stations and a full seat all to yourself inside the train. If you carry a laptop then you can even get some work done.

That hasn't been my experience, lol. But I am very much not a fan of driving in Boston, even the Seaport. Pike typically looked jammed.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

So, good news! I got a verbal offer for a new job. Fantastic benefits (22 weeks maternity leave! $10K toward adoption fees! 6 weeks vacation! bonus! stock options!) in a stable industry that I've been trying to break into for awhile, and a 70% salary raise before touching other compensation for significantly less responsibility. It's a great situation, and one that is finally propelling me toward homeownership and being able to afford children. Those of you who have known me around this forum for awhile know what a huge deal this is for me after a few really rough years trying to break into the housing market.

Congrats on the new gig. Those benefits sound fantastic...especially the stock options. I would have made the same decision--accept the job, and figure out how to make the commute work after that. Especially if it's only 2-3 days in the office.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by r_p

I have been taking the commuter rail from Natick/Wellesley to Back Bay since 2015 and 90% of the time the trains have been on time. These days you are pretty much guaranteed a parking spot at most stations and a full seat all to yourself inside the train. If you carry a laptop then you can even get some work done.

90% of the time isn't good enough, if OP wants to appear reliable and responsible. You may be OK with looking like an irresponsible slacker once every 2 weeks, but it's not in her best interests to do that at a new job that's paying her life changing money. Bad advice.

[charolastra00]

Franky, driving offers a lot of the same challenges regarding timeliness as the train. For instance, in the morning Google Maps guesses that the commute is 1 hour to 1 hour 50. So if I get on the road and there's an accident or two on the Pike, I'm going to be late, too.

If I get to Ashland for the 7:30 train, I'd get in at 8:23 with a lot of buffer room. I've also been reassured throughout the process that the culture isn't one where they watch the clock because they understand that the Seaport is rough to get into from just about everywhere and that a little delay can throw off the whole commute.

It's reassuring to know that there's more parking in Ashland, even though that's almost a half hour drive just to get there factoring in traffic. :\

Some of the folks on my team are able to work 100% remote, so fingers crossed I can move more in that direction- at least until I can move to a more convenient commuting location!

[GeoffD]

Google Maps has 53 minutes at 6:40am from Marlborough to the Convention Center. Coming in on the Pike with a parking spot at the office, I’d drive.

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Google Maps has 53 minutes at 6:40am from Marlborough to the Convention Center. Coming in on the Pike with a parking spot at the office, I’d drive.

Hmm, maybe traffic is still very light enough to make it worthwhile to drive in.

Should mention that you shouldn't underestimate the cost of the Pike tolls. It is only like 2 bucks per ride but it would add up.

[simplexsimon]

It's a Monday. Traffic these days are light(er) on M/F and peak mid-week since these are most people's hybrid arrangements.

[lrfox]

Not much to add, but Congratulations on the job!

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

If I get to Ashland for the 7:30 train, I'd get in at 8:23 with a lot of buffer room.

This would push me even more in favor of driving. Add up all that buffer time plus the drive to Ashland, any transfers and then however long to walk from your last station. These days you could be waiting 15min just to transfer to the subway with the weekend schedules. I'm guessing your "balance" of lateness from an accident or other driving trouble would be less than how much time you waste on the train. Of course this could all change with more people going back to work.

[simplexsimon]

Do both and pick what you like. I'm not sure how your commuter benefit reimbursement works - might be a one-month commitment for each at worst?