How far would you commute? (Philadelphia, Allentown: appointed, house, employment)

[Duderino]

I just thought this was an interesting article, as it has a lot of implications for more sprawl and suburbanization of Southeastern PA given the economic advantages of living in a cheaper area but working in an area with higher wages. However, I wonder what the cost-of-living will have in store in about 10 years for adjacent areas such as Lancaster, Reading, and Allentown as Philly-area commuters continue to live farther out from their jobs. Will we have any "bargain" areas -- or rural areas, for that matter -- left in this part of the state?

The new western pioneers
Lancaster County is becoming the edge of Phila. commuting.

By Tom Infield

Inquirer Staff Writer
Jim and Debby Geissel liked their twin house in Northeast Philadelphia. But as their family grew to include two boys, with another soon on the way, they began to look at larger homes in the Route 611 corridor north of the city.


The new western pioneers | Philadelphia Inquirer | 12/11/2007 (broken link)

[FindingZen]

Thanks for the article, Duderino! I'm disappointed but not surprised that sprawl has reached into Lancaster County. As you're familiar with DC, you know that it will only get worse unless/until Philly and other metros figure out a way to improve the employment and education prospects in the city core.

There will probably always be people who want their quiet acre of land. But if the article is any measure, a household's decision to commute from the exurbs seems to be influenced as much by circumstance as by choice.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Thanks for the article, Duderino! I'm disappointed but not surprised that sprawl has reached into Lancaster County. As you're familiar with DC, you know that it will only get worse unless/until Philly and other metros figure out a way to improve the employment and education prospects in the city core.

Most definitely. I think it's important for our metropolitan areas to grow economically, but it's really not necessary to deplete valuable countryside in the process. I've read articles recently about some firms contemplating relocation from the suburbs to the city (i.e., Unisys), so hopefully trends like that will continue and counteract the trend of exurban/suburban development.

Originally Posted by Tone509

There will probably always be people who want their quiet acre of land. But if the article is any measure, a household's decision to commute from the exurbs seems to be influenced as much by circumstance as by choice.

That's an excellent point. I know lots of people just prefer suburban living, but I think more living/lifestyle opportunities are arising in areas in or close to the urban core that were not there 10-15 years ago -- the new, large-scale "lifestyle center" that is currently being constructed in King of Prussia is a perfect example:

Village at Valley Forge.

While farther commutes leading to more bedroom communities in far away farm land will certainly continue, I just hope more Smart Growth developments such as these will win out in the end.

[rainrock]

130 mile daily roundtrip is absolutely ridiculous. I could maybe see living in Ephrata if you worked in Exton or maybe West Chester but not South Philly. 3 hours a day commuting,$7800 a year in gas, wear and tear/tires etc on the car. No thanks. Those people could live in Downingtown for a few more bucks and cut their commute in half. These lancaster commuters are the extreme exception and not the norm.

Now in 25-30 years as the western suburbs continue to grow, I can definitely see Lancaster/Berks Counties getting drawn into the Philadlephia metro.

[johnrex62]

Well, my current commute is 1,368 miles each way, but I only do one roundtrip a week and by air........does this count? The furthest I 'comfortably' commuted on a daily basis is 45 miles in about 50 minutes.

[billb7581]

That's too freakin far.. I like my 15 minute commute from Cinnaminsion to the northeast

[UrbanQuest]

Originally Posted by rainrock

130 mile daily roundtrip is absolutely ridiculous. I could maybe see living in Ephrata if you worked in Exton or maybe West Chester but not South Philly. 3 hours a day commuting,$7800 a year in gas, wear and tear/tires etc on the car. No thanks. Those people could live in Downingtown for a few more bucks and cut their commute in half. These lancaster commuters are the extreme exception and not the norm.

Now in 25-30 years as the western suburbs continue to grow, I can definitely see Lancaster/Berks Counties getting drawn into the Philadlephia metro.

Berks has already recently been added to the Philadelphia combined statistical area. I guess it's a matter of time before Lancaster does. Or maybe someone here knows whether Berks is currently much more connected to the Philadelphia area than Lancaster is.

[Ohiogirl81]

I go insane driving from Norristown to East Falls -- a 13-mile drive that takes anywhere from 30 to 50 minutes. I couldn't begin to imagine driving in from Lancaster County.