How bad is traffic (reverse commute from downtown Minneapolis)?

[mgambino79]

Well I moved to Minnesota from Houston, TX in May, 2013, and I have to say that the commute from 35W southbound, to 694 westbound, to 100 southbound into St. Louis Park (and the reverse during the PM commute) is absolutely the worst commute I've ever had. I used to think Houston's traffic was awful, but this route is, ultimately, the worst. Even when there's not snow or ice on the highway, it's still 2 to 5 miles an hour, stop and go, the whole way once I get onto 694. It takes me sometimes over an hour just to go that last 15 miles into work. I don't understand why it's that bad, but because of that, I am moving to another part of town just to be closer to the job.

[Beenhere4ever]

MNDOT has realtime traffic maps. You could pick out your route and look at those maps at the time of day when you'd travel. To me, working in Rosemount and living in downtown spells HUGE gas bills!

Mn/DOT Traveler Information

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by Beenhere4ever

MNDOT has realtime traffic maps. You could pick out your route and look at those maps at the time of day when you'd travel. To me, working in Rosemount and living in downtown spells HUGE gas bills!

Mn/DOT Traveler Information

Not really....you use more gas sitting in a gridlock or putzing along at 20 mph stopping at every intersection for 30 minutes then you do driving at a steady 60-70 mph for 30 minutes....or you just take the bus....

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Not really....you use more gas sitting in a gridlock or putzing along at 20 mph stopping at every intersection for 30 minutes then you do driving at a steady 60-70 mph for 30 minutes....or you just take the bus....

If you're putzing on city streets for 30+ minutes, you either live in an incredibly inconvenient location or you aren't smart enough to use the highways. Living in the city does not mean all slow streets and no highway cruising.

That said, I'd rather deal with Hennepin Avenue at rush hour over 494 at the same time any day of the week, especially with the retimed lights.

[Beenhere4ever]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Not really....you use more gas sitting in a gridlock or putzing along at 20 mph stopping at every intersection for 30 minutes then you do driving at a steady 60-70 mph for 30 minutes....or you just take the bus....

With the damage done to Minnesota roads, you can pretty much count on gridlock. But how do you "just take the bus" to Rosemount? Me, I'd totally live near Rosemount. I'd never reverse commute. To me, living downtown PLUS commuting is sucking too much from my income. And if you lived 5 miles from Rosemount, I'll bet all the costs would be way lower. Downtown Minneapolis is WAY overhyped as a "happening place". Can't believe it has gained such a reputation. The Downtown Council is brewing some really toxic Koolaid these days.