Dos Lagos, Corona...Drive to Monrovia? (Los Angeles, Irvine: home, transfer to, buy)

[egyptianheidi]

Hello-

My husband and I may be relocating to So. CA from Seattle. We live in a newly constructed 2,000 sq. ft. home here in Seattle. We'd like something comparable in CA that isn't $5m. So, we found a gorgeous home in "Dos Lagos", Corona that is reasonably priced. My husband would commute to Irvine, and I think with the toll roads, could do so in an hour or less.

I would need to commute to Monrovia, albeit, maybe only 3 times a week. Would this be feasible? Would I be driving against the traffic or in the thick of it? Are there any toll roads or metro options?

Any advice would be appreciated.

THANKS!

EH

[EscapeCalifornia]

Monrovia and Irvine are really far apart. Period. End of story. You're going to have a heck of a time finding a midway point that won't drive one of you to a traffic stressed induced murder suicide eventually. Anything that involves the 91 freeway west in the morning is hell. Even with the 241 toll road, you have to slug it out on the 91 to actually get to the 241. Then spend something like $8/day to get from there to Irvine.

[egyptianheidi]

EscapeCalifornia:

Based on your username, I guess you really DO want to escape California! Any luck with that as of yet? I notice a lot of negative advice from you, but none that is solutions oriented. Where do you live and commute to?

-EH

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by egyptianheidi

EscapeCalifornia:

Based on your username, I guess you really DO want to escape California! Any luck with that as of yet? I notice a lot of negative advice from you, but none that is solutions oriented. Where do you live and commute to?

-EH

I live in Orange County and I have to drive all over the place. Traffic is something that never seems to end like it does in most places and it really cuts into where I can go to make money at what time of day. Even on the weekends, the certain freeways like the 91 and the 5 will have bumper to bumper traffic. If you want to live so far from work that you spend your life crawling on the freeway, be my guest. As for me, my wife and I are making plans to leave this place for Denver, CO, where the locals still complain about the traffic but really have no idea how good they have it.

[egyptianheidi]

Well, my husband and I do quite specialized international work of which there are only a few places we are able to live and make a living (in the US)..Monrovia and Irvine both happen to be 2 in California...We don't have the luxury of working nearer to each other. That said, is there anywhere you could recommend that might make this feasible?

Good luck in Denver. It's gorgeous and sunny although suffers traffic trauma as well!

[missionhome]

Where exactly will you be working in Monrovia and Irvine. If you know the major cross streets, or address, that would help. It might be possible for both of you to have commutes around one hour each way with a combination of train and light rail. It depends on how close you work is to the train stations though.

[egyptianheidi]

Hi-

My husband will be in Irvine - off the Alton Pkwy/Irvine Blvd intersection. I'll be in Monrovia on W. Chestnut Avenue - between S. 5th and Monteray Avenue...

Not sure what the name of the train/light rail companies are...If you can help, perhaps I can google schedules...?

Thank you!

[OutOfSoCal]

light rail is OUT, it would be many transfers and lot of time to Monrovia. I live about 15 minute East of Monrovia dn commute to Corona every day. It will be about a 40 minutes drive with light traffic if you need to be there before 9:30 MA plan on at least an hr. While you are against the real heavy traffic you will still get your share. My suggested routes depending on where in Corona you are. 15N to 10 W to 210W or 91 W to 71N to 210W. I prefer the 71 because I also know all the sidre streets and can get around anything. if the 10 adn/or 71 are backed up you can cut across the 210 straight from the 15 or use the 60west, lots of options for you. for Hubby......

Not so much you can use the 241(toll) its not too bad depending on time of day, is expensive $8-10 a day is about right. He can bypass the toll and "go around" to the 57 to the 5 adn save some money but will add alot of time to the drive, particularly during traffic hours. He has an hour drive with the toll roads in the AM.

Good Luck
there rally isn't a better location, be ready for hot hot hot summers got over 105 for quite a few days this summer in Corona. If you may want to look at Fullerton. a liitle further for you but safer cooler adn in OC a little better resale value down the line

[missionhome]

The companies to look at:
For travel within Orange County: Metrolink (train operator) and OCTA (bus operator).
For travel in LA County (where Monrovia is): Metrolink (train operator) MTA (light rail, subway, bus operator)

I would recommend you look at the Fullerton area. Very nice area that is sort of half way between destinations and has a train station at its heart.
If your husband took the train: He would probably take Metrolink #682 south from Fullerton Station and get off at the Irvine Transportation Center Station. This train leaves at 7:17AM and arrives in Irvine at 7:53AM. A bus leaves corresponding with the train's arrival at 8:06AM. Take OCTA Bus route #188 and get off at Alton and Foster Drive ten minutes later. This is about the length of a football field from Irvine Blvd then. All in all- One hour of travel. - If you choose the train option, buy a Rail 2 Rail Pass so you can use the larger schedule that includes use of Amtrak Trains.
For trips to Monrovia:Trains depart from Fullerton to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. This is about a forty minute ride. From there you transfer to the Gold Line operated by the MTA. This is a light rail line and takes thirty minutes to ride to Sierra Madre Villa Station, its terminus. There you will board MTA's Foothill Transit #187 going East and get off at Monterey and Huntington Drives intersection in Monrovia. This is one block south of where your work is. Total travel time is one hour and thirty minutes. At least you aren't driving so can bring something to read.

[David Aguilar]

I second (or third) the Fullerton option. The housing values are more stable, and it's a more central location to your jobs. Commuting isn't a fun lifestyle, living closer to work will enrich your lives more than you could imagine. You might have to take a small step down in housing, but it'd be worth it in the long run. Driving to Monrovia from Corona would be hell, once you get to the 210 in San Dimas you'd be parked on a 1-2 mph conveyor belt all the way to Monrovia.