commute from Ahwatukee to Arcadia area (Phoenix, Scottsdale: apartment, renting, home)

[yesterday6r4]

I will be renting in Ahwatukee near 48th and Elliot and wondering what the best commute would be to a job I'll be starting near 44th and Camelback in the Arcadia area of Phoenix. Would it better to use freeways or regular streets. I understand both can be slow during peak drive times. Help!

[observer53]

I was only taken that way once, but there is sort of a back way out of Ahwahukee around the Arizona Grand Resort that would get you to 48th St, (I was taken that way on a weekend, I have no idea what it's like during a regular commute) which turns into the 143 going north, take a left where it ends at McDowell, then go north on 44th. The other option is to take the 10 to the 143 and then do the same thing. So, there really isn't much freeway involved, but that short stretch of the 10, particularly, can be crowded.

[Howard Roark]

I know exactly because I have an apartment southwest of 48th and Elliot. Occassionally I work for a year or so in the Arcadia area a little south of 44th & Camelback.

In any route I end up driving the 143 "freeway" to McDowell, turn left on McDowell heading west, then go north on 44th.

Okay here are alternate routes from your place:

Take the I-10 freeway and grit your teeth as you handle the Broadway curve to merge to the exit taking you to the 143 freeway. The problem is the Broadway curve. You have traffic merging from the 60 going west. Best thing to do is to get on the 1-10 at Elliot no later than 6:10 a.m. Traffic gets congested very fast the longer you dawdle. Five minute departure time is a major difference.

Alternatively go straight north on 48th. Bear left instead of mis-taking the turn to Guadalupe. You pass through a small traffic circle. Follow the route and you are on 48th again. Go straight north about three miles and it becomes the 143 freeway. I would take this route if I left later than 6:15 from my apartment.

On the way back home it's a bummer any way. You have to take the 143 again. The merge onto I-10 is bad and slow if you head back home at 4pm. A nightmare. At least you can get an idea of what the I-10 looks like before you decide to committ to I-10. Otherwise go south when 143 becomes 48th street. Go all the way south and you will be back at the quiet traffic circle area again. Sometimes I take Baseline east to I-10 from 48th to get back onto the freeway. In that case it's not bad to get back to Elliot. Stay in the right most lane all the way to Elliot if you go the I-10 route from Baseline onramp.

Funny thing is that traffic in Phoenix at rush hour is as bad as many Los Angeles freeways at rush hour, even in the hot summer when the snowbirds are gone!

Sorry if that was long-winded.

Now for good stuff: Lunchtime spots to eat: Indian School and 44th has Pei Wei, Starbucks, Rubios, Rumbii (Hawaiian), Pita Jungle, Subway, Starbucks, and several other places to eat. I also like Olympic Flame on Thomas near 40th. I always ordered the Salman Santorini. Of course, there is Chipotle at Thomas and 44th, a popular spot of mine. For fast food, Thomas has a lot of spots or you can go to Costco and get a couple slices of pizza!

Sometimes if we took a longer lunch, we'd go to Oregano's in Scottsdale. Have to get there by 11:30 and reserve a table before the crowds.

I'm kind of envious. I have few good lunch spots in Los Angeles where I currently work. My colleagues eat mostly at hole-in-the-wall places. The major restaurants are in a heavy traffic area too long to get to.

[yesterday6r4]

Thankyou observer53 and Howard Roark for the information. I looked on the Google map and it looks like 48th to the 143, Mc Dowell, and 44th is the best option. Is the traffic worse on freeways during peak times or is it just as bad on regular streets with all the stoplights?

[Howard Roark]

Traffic is worse at peak times. Of course on weekends, I-10 is a breeze. I found that after 7pm on weeknights, traffic is not a problem either. But that makes for a very long day at work!

[observer53]

Google maps is basically telling you the same thing we did -- so that's good.

There are times in my commute when I have taken the surface streets instead of freeway because it's less frustrating to me to be having a slow, but still moving trip on surface streets than to be sitting practically still on a multilane freeway that should be moving faster. Note that my commute is MUCH longer than yours would be, with more options on how to get from A to B.

[Howard Roark]

Oh, one more alternative going north:

Take Elliot to I-10, stay right all the way and take the Baseline exit. Get in the rightmost lane on baseline to 48th and go up to 143 from there. That's if the broadway curve has a serious jam such as an accident. You can meke quick judgments and decissions of what route to take at the last moment when you have experience of going those routes. Also helps to check traffic on the web or TV before you leave your place!

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by yesterday6r4

Thankyou observer53 and Howard Roark for the information. I looked on the Google map and it looks like 48th to the 143, Mc Dowell, and 44th is the best option. Is the traffic worse on freeways during peak times or is it just as bad on regular streets with all the stoplights?

I find most freeways to be horrendous during rush hour times. The average speed on the 51 or 202 inner loop is less than 25 MPH during these peak driving times. If you can time the stoplights just right, it might actually be better to try surface streets, especially if you're commuting from Ahwatukee. That is nicknamed the "world's biggest cul de sac" for a good reason: one major freeway serving all of Ahwatukee, and everyone scrambling to get on or off. Freeway travel is fine after about 8 PM on weekdays ... but freeway traffic can often move slower than on surface streets during rush hour, especially when there's any kind of accident, or a vehicle pulled over on the shoulder. Too many rubberneckers disrupting the flow!

[homlish560]

I visited a buddy of mine in Ahwatukee and did a similar drive in and out of this section.

It was a mess and that was an understatement!!!!!! Coming down I-10 into Ahwatukee wasn't so bad but going back there was about 3 light changes before I could get back on the I-10.

There was a huge tie-up around the Broadway curve but then pretty smooth heading west and up the 51 to where I live in North Phx.