Commute time from Queen Creek to Downtown Phoenix

[sablebaby]

Geez, it seems the main reason anyone looks at Queen Creek is for affordability. Suggesting areas that are super expensive is ridiculous. PV, central corridor, Biltmore, and anything historic, you are looking at a minimum of $400k - $1 million! Before recommending an area I would ask what their price range is.

OP, what is your price range?

[AksarbeN]

Originally Posted by CodyW

Yeh. ADOT is talking about a braided freeway system, like Toronto's 'awe-inspiring' 401. That said, alot of people would lean to Queen Creek simply for the point of affordability. Thats why I pointed him toward Buckeye. Because, hey, the average person like myself and many others can't afford a house in Biltmore or Willo, at least a decently updated one.

What is a braided freeway system? Never heard of it.

[Nice Nice Baby!]

It seems if you were working in Chandler, Gilbert, or Mesa then Queen Creek is a good place. If you work in downtown Phoenix or on the west side, Buckeye is good.

I'm wondering what this braided system entails too. They're going to have to do something soon.

[AksarbeN]

There has been talk about the double decker on I-17 “Blackcanyon”. My thoughts are you can only move soooo much traffic into and out of the city, right now it’s a parking lot during rush hours at times. The light rail has taken up one or more lanes of traffic on surface streets, maybe they could run another light rail in the diamond lanes?

So what is a braided freeway? I looked at the map and see nothing unusual.

[Master Shake]

My understanding is that a braided freeway is just segregated traffic lanes, used to help prevent merging of those who drive short distances with those who drive longer distances. For example, they could have 1-2 lanes with very few entrances/exits, going from downtown PHX straight through to Tempe or Chandler (about 10+ miles). Cutting down on merging is supposed to allow the traffic to flow better.

Here is the article (from the AZ Republic) discussing the ADOT plans.

www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0427broadway0427.html (broken link)

[Dave in Phoenix]

Originally Posted by AksarbeN

What is a braided freeway system? Never heard of it.

I go to Toronto often and marvel at the engineering of the 401 with its miles of multi lane collectors that run along the main freeway for short hauls vs the major what six or eight lanes of the main freeway.

There is nothing like it in Phoenix or any other cities I have been in I recall.

It seems to be a very well laid out plan....BUT

Even with the massive amount of lanes and separate collectors it is often gridlocked even worse sometimes than Phoenix during rush hour and in Toronto often very bad even off peak times.

As in Phoenix there are just too many cars trying to get to the same place. Toronto has a larger central business district than Phoenix which tends to be more spread out.

There also is a toll road as an alternative in Toronto but not going directly downtown as I recall but for avoiding the 401 mess and going E-W a bit North of downtown it is a good alternative choice for a fee.

I rarely go downtown however in either Phoenix or Toronto and avoid most traffic by living and working in less congested areas.

[deedawk1]

Originally Posted by Master Shake

My understanding is that a braided freeway is just segregated traffic lanes, used to help prevent merging of those who drive short distances with those who drive longer distances. For example, they could have 1-2 lanes with very few entrances/exits, going from downtown PHX straight through to Tempe or Chandler (about 10+ miles). Cutting down on merging is supposed to allow the traffic to flow better.

Here is the article (from the AZ Republic) discussing the ADOT plans.

www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0427broadway0427.html (broken link)

In Detroit, we have an system like this on I-96. It is divided between a 3 lane express lane and then a 2-3 lane local lane. It works pretty well, especially if your driving a short distance. You're not caught in the bumper to bumper during rush hour.

[gregandvicky]

You are looking at an hour at least. It take 20 minutes to the 60 freeway and at rush hour is is really really slow.

[uwishtoo]

When I first got here i relied on the interstates, the 202 and 101 loop to go everywhere. Once I got my job I took the 202 for the first day and it was nervewracking and a good hour to get to my place of business - only 18 miles but still an hour in the morning and worse than that at nite. I finally did mapquest again and specified to AVOID freeways and I now have a nice no rush hour, no accidents for the most part - one in three weeks - and it takes me around 35 minutes morning and nite both. Work mapquest that way. Plus you cant just put in the cities and get a fair look at the distance. You really need a good street for start to finish. For example it takes me less than a 20 minute drive to get to my nephews in Scottsdale but he lives in the south part - so not too far off the interstate of 101 - but if I try and go to north scottsdal you might be talking a good 45 minutes.