Moving to Miami for the First Time: Commute?? (Doral, Pinecrest: neighborhoods, good schools)

[usernewuser]

Hi, I am moving to Miami for the first time and would like suggestions. I will need to commute every day to Dolphin Mall area (west) but I am afraid that's a bad area to actually live in. I really like Brickell Downtown, but I am afraid of the commute from Brickell to Dolphin Mall every morning and then back. Any suggestions on how bad it actually is, and if is there another nice area that I should consider to not deal with too much traffic if so?

[pierrekid]

The area around dolphin Mall is not bad at all. Very suburban and quiet around the Doral area.

[usernewuser]

Thanks for your reply. Do you know if the traffic is too bad?

[AnnRyan]

The traffic isn't usually bad in that direction, but most people choose to live by the Dolphin rather than live in Brickell because of the nice, quiet neighborhoods and good schools. If you're looking to live nearby in a sophisticated setting like Brickell... Downtown Doral, Doral's City Place and Oasis would be smarter choices.

Downtown Doral - Life Redefined - Live, Work, Play and Learn

Some folks are invetiably going to recommend moving to Broward... also a decent option, but you will be stuck in rush hour traffic, and it's 100% suburban.

[MyITGuy]

A big part of the commute time will be the time of day you are travelling and if school has started or not.

Brickell to Dolphin Mall area around 8AM will be a 30-35 minute trip based on tommorows ETA's and seems to be a somewhat straight shot via 836. I would believe you are going against the traffic flow (Turnpike/826 to Downtown) so it should be a fairly smooth drive once you get out of the local traffic.

I'm only familiar with the parts further south (Pinecrest/Palemtto Bay/Cutler Bay) and you would likely be looking at a worse commute time (My wife worked in the same area and hated the commute - Could take anywhere between 35-180 minutes)

[usernewuser]

Originally Posted by MyITGuy

A big part of the commute time will be the time of day you are travelling and if school has started or not.

Brickell to Dolphin Mall area around 8AM will be a 30-35 minute trip based on tommorows ETA's and seems to be a somewhat straight shot via 836. I would believe you are going against the traffic flow (Turnpike/826 to Downtown) so it should be a fairly smooth drive once you get out of the local traffic.

I'm only familiar with the parts further south (Pinecrest/Palemtto Bay/Cutler Bay) and you would likely be looking at a worse commute time (My wife worked in the same area and hated the commute - Could take anywhere between 35-180 minutes)

That's very helpful , was she commuting from further south? 180 min sounds insane. Google maps say about 20-35min on a rush hour from Brickell but considering everyone says traffic is horrible I am afraid that google is not being realistic so any advice is welcome. Also, do you know if tolls are something too expensive? It seems like all routes from Brickell area to west pass through tolls.

[usernewuser]

Originally Posted by AnnRyan

The traffic isn't usually bad in that direction, but most people choose to live by the Dolphin rather than live in Brickell because of the nice, quiet neighborhoods and good schools. If you're looking to live nearby in a sophisticated setting like Brickell... Downtown Doral, Doral's City Place and Oasis would be smarter choices.

Downtown Doral - Life Redefined - Live, Work, Play and Learn

Some folks are invetiably going to recommend moving to Broward... also a decent option, but you will be stuck in rush hour traffic, and it's 100% suburban.

Thanks so much!
I am undecided. Brickell seems more my style, I am used to big cities like NYC. But If the commute will take most of my day I would take it off the question. 30min sounds reasonable but I am afraid It would be more than that.

[maverick5575]

Originally Posted by usernewuser

Hi, I am moving to Miami for the first time and would like suggestions. I will need to commute every day to Dolphin Mall area (west) but I am afraid that's a bad area to actually live in. I really like Brickell Downtown, but I am afraid of the commute from Brickell to Dolphin Mall every morning and then back. Any suggestions on how bad it actually is, and if is there another nice area that I should consider to not deal with too much traffic if so?

Here is a suggestion,

DONT MOVE HERE. And the traffic is bad everywhere here so it really doesnt matter. You will deal with a lot of traffic, one way or another. ITS UNAVOIDABLE

[MyITGuy]

Originally Posted by usernewuser

That's very helpful , was she commuting from further south?

She was commuting from Cutler Bay to Doral, with local traffic to/from the highway accounting for 10-15 minutes of that commute.

Originally Posted by usernewuser

180 min sounds insane.

It is, but unfortunately if there is inclement weather, accidents or road closures your commute will be severely impacted.

Originally Posted by usernewuser

Google maps say about 20-35min on a rush hour from Brickell

Thats why I wen't on the high side at 30-35 minutes I haven't been back in a few months but I frequently take the 836/826 to get from the airport to the office which covers some of your proposed commute and it wasn't too bad in that direction.

Also, do you know if tolls are something too expensive? It seems like all routes from Brickell area to west pass through tolls.

I rarely encountered any tolls (I lived about 2 miles from the office). Between my wifes commute and our weekend travels/outings I would frequently see our SunPass replenishments top $100+/month. I came across an app named TollSmart for another person inquiring which covers most of the toll roadways to give you an idea on cost if you want to check it out.

[usernewuser]

Originally Posted by maverick5575

Here is a suggestion,

DONT MOVE HERE. And the traffic is bad everywhere here so it really doesnt matter. You will deal with a lot of traffic, one way or another. ITS UNAVOIDABLE

You mean Miami general or Doral?