commute from Greensburg to Oakland (Pittsburgh, Jeannette: fit in, sale, apartment)

[damfinejoe]

I am moving from San Francisco to Greensburg, PA (30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh) and will be working near the U or Pitt in Oakland. Can anyone tell me what the commute will be like in terms of time and traffic. I would be starting work at 8am and finishing around 5 or 6pm. How is traffic in general? Thanks

[damfinejoe]

Originally Posted by MarcFromGreensburg

Traffic is pretty easy almost all the way in. Unfortunately there is one major trouble spot in your commute: the Squirrel Hill tunnel. It's about 2 or 3 miles from Oakland and the backup it causes during rush hour will add 15 to 20 minutes to your commute for a grand total of about 50 minutes.

So, what caused you to pick Greensburg?

My family lives in Greensburg, and although I grew up there, I have been in San Francisco the last 25 years. I am moving back to be with the family, and I am also ready for a "change of climate". Having been gone so long, I have no idea what the traffic situation is like. I know the Squirrel Hill tunnel will be a problem. Luckily, I drive 50 min. to get to just about anywhere in SF, so I am used to it. Thanks

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by damfinejoe

My family lives in Greensburg, and although I grew up there, I have been in San Francisco the last 25 years. I am moving back to be with the family, and I am also ready for a "change of climate". Having been gone so long, I have no idea what the traffic situation is like. I know the Squirrel Hill tunnel will be a problem. Luckily, I drive 50 min. to get to just about anywhere in SF, so I am used to it. Thanks

22 year SF Bay Area resident -- truly thinking the same thing as you -- moving back to the Pittsburgh area.

Please let us know how the transition goes. I'm some what worried that we won't fit in anymore...

[damfinejoe]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

22 year SF Bay Area resident -- truly thinking the same thing as you -- moving back to the Pittsburgh area.

Please let us know how the transition goes. I'm some what worried that we won't fit in anymore...

One thing I will have never have to wonder about while living in Pittsburgh - "Gee, I wonder what living in California is like". Living in the SF Bay Area for so long has shaped my lifestyle, my attitude, and the way I live my life that no matter where I live, I will always be the same person I was in California- and I am actually looking forward to taking that back with me. I personally believe that the way you live your life is all about your attitude - so as far as the transformation - I know it will be good. Actually, I have always considered myself a black sheep, but never had a problem anywhere I lived (Chicago, Sacramento, Monterey, SF) fitting in.
Having lived on both coasts, I know the pros and cons of each, and my decision to move is due to family (I feel disconnected in the Bay Area) and wanting a better financial lifestyle. As far as Pittsburgh and SF, each city has its own strengths, beauty, and weaknesses - and for me, it was better to have lived (in SF) than to have never lived at all. At least I will be able to talk intelligently and from experience about California to people who are curious, not like people on these posts that speculate too much about a place because they have "read" so much about it - but have never been or visited. I have been thinking of moving for the past 2 years, and now feels like the time. I will be leaving Feb. 13th, and I will be sad because I am not one of those people down on California, I actually love it here and deciding to move was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but now is the time. Also, I am not one of those who will say to myself "I can always come back" because I don't want to look back - I am more interested in moving forward, not having regrets, and making the most best of it. Attitude, attitude, attitude...I would be curious to know your situation, if you wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by damfinejoe

I would be curious to know your situation, if you wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks

Like you, I feel disconnected here. In the 22 years here, we have found lots of acquaintances, but few real friends, and the few real friends are all in a state of crazy. They are all so busy trying to keep their heads above water and still spend themselves to death, that it's hard watching them. We've seen divorces and deaths and suicides and depression, and I'm getting too old for all this fuss over the newest freakin' fad that you'll want to replace when the next freakin' fad comes along.

I miss having land. Our lot is bigger than most urban lots, since ours is an older neighborhood that was well out of the city center, but I still can hear my neighbor shower in the morning as I read my paper with both our windows closed. I can hear my other neighbors fighting as I type this.

I miss space. My hubby grew up in very small apartment they managed to cram four bedrooms into, so he's used to it, but the older I get the more ticked off I get at having to have dining room slash sewing room slash library slash kitty playroom slash storage area. I want a quilting room with a design wall.

I really miss my sisters. The one that lives in Pittsburgh is a raving Republican (and no -- that's not exactly political, because not all Republicans are raving -- just her and my Mom ) but she is also a raving Fred and Ginger freak, and I miss seeing these old movies with her. I miss her goofy kids that may get married in a few years.

For me, I'm ready to not be in California anymore. I'm tired of the traffic, the panics over the rain or wind, the rats in the maze feeling I'm getting now with all the violence around...

[outaPA]

Originally Posted by damfinejoe

. At least I will be able to talk intelligently and from experience about California to people who are curious,

That's one of the problems here joe, they AREN'T curious and they won't ask you about California living. Your experiences won't matter one iota. Pittsburgh is the center of the universe and those living here don't even think much about outside the center.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by outaPA

That's one of the problems here joe, they AREN'T curious and they won't ask you about California living. Your experiences won't matter one iota. Pittsburgh is the center of the universe and those living here don't even think much about outside the center.

Right, whereas in California you'll often hear people asking, "so what's it like living in Pittsburgh?" because, you know, California is NOT one of the most self-absorbed places on Earth...

[JacksPgh]

I have nearly the same commute. If you can avoid the rush hour commute it is really not bad at all. It is freeway nearly the entire way from Jeannette (just west of Greensburg) to Pittsburgh. There are many "park and rides" and "ride shares" available from the Greensburg area. They are tedious, like everywhere.

I was living on the North side of Pittsburgh but am now near Greensburg taking care of my parents. I grew up in the region. I left when I was 18. I've lived in Atlanta, DC, NYC, Paris and Miami. I have returned to Pittsburgh about 8 years ago. I am generally content here. I still get an urge to move away again, once and a while, but I did that everywhere I've lived. my brother lives in Chico and my nephew lives in Pacifica. They both plan on moving back here after more than a decade there. I am encouraging them to do so. They are both in the postion of being able to sale their homes there and buying a bigger one here with enough leftover to actually have a considerable amount of downtime.

You will find that you will not get much constructive input from OutaPa. It is his mission in life to bad mouth the area.

[Mr. Mon]

There are ways into Oakland that you can take to avoid some of the tunnel traffic. Otherwise you'll just have to tolerate the commute or take a Westmoreland County Transit bus. They run from park-and-rides into downtown, so I would assume they also stop in Oakland. Check their website to be sure.

[damfinejoe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mon

There are ways into Oakland that you can take to avoid some of the tunnel traffic. Otherwise you'll just have to tolerate the commute or take a Westmoreland County Transit bus. They run from park-and-rides into downtown, so I would assume they also stop in Oakland. Check their website to be sure.

Can you expand on those alternate routes to Oakland that avoid the tunnel? I will be living just off Route 30 (Pleasant Unity Exit) which is just west of the Westmoreland Mall. It will take me 20 min. to get to Irwin.
Also, thanks to everyone who posted, I appreciate the info.
I would like to say that I respect everyone's opinion - I believe everyone is entitled to their say - I am very capable of filtering through the negative and seeing the reality. I am a very upbeat person with a positive outlook on life with a great attitude about life in general. I am not going to bash anyone for having negative things to say about Pittsburgh because I know what a wonderful place it is - I was born and raised in Pittsburgh and then my family moved to Greensburg. Opinions are just that, excessive expressions of one's own mood and attitude, or to quote the dictionary, "a belief or judgement that rests on grounds left insufficient to produce complete certainty". I left Greensburg when I was 22 only because the economy in Pittsburgh was terrible from the closing of the steel mills (late 70's, early 80's). My entire family is in Greensburg and that, along with my desire to be financially secure (will never happen in California), is my motivation for moving back to Greensburg. I even passed up a promotion with my current employer (who is transferring me to a store in Pittsburgh, I am paying the way back, but at least I have my job which I love) because the potential increase in salary still does not justify the expense of California housing costs. And my family is in Greensburg.