RTP traffic/commuting question (Raleigh, Durham: how much, to live, airport)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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It's all a matter of perspective. Depending on where you live now you might get here and laugh at people who complain about the traffic here or you might be shocked and appalled by it.
Right now the hotspot into RTP is the ramp from 540 to 40. The ramp was narrowed by a lane when the newest section of 540 opened a few weeks ago, and it's taking people maybe 3 to 5 minutes longer to navigate the onramp. This should ease once people figure out alternate routes into the park using the new exits off of 540. The corridor from 55 to the airport on Morrisville Carpenter/Aviation Parkway is moving MUCH better since 540 opened-I had to go that way to the hospital at 5PM last Friday and was pleasantly surprised at how much better it has gotten.
I come from the Northeast where my 23 mile commute took an hour and 20 minutes, so I look at the traffic and think that most people around here don't know how good they have it.
If you live in West Cary or Apex, you can get to the park in 20-25 minutes for sure. Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina are more like 35. North Raleigh is probably 1/2 hour. East Raleigh/Knightdale 40 minutes.
Also be advised that North Raleigh is a HUGE area and commuting times can vary. We live off Leesville rd. and 540 and my wife gets to her job at GSK in 15 minutes. If you live near rt.1/401 in North Raleigh then it could take a whole lot longer.
Also, traffic on 540 and 40 don't really get going until 7:30am. I leave for work at 6:30 (going to South East Raleigh) and traffic is extremely light in both directions. Not like in DC when traffic would be backed up at 5:30am.
Traffic will be getting worse here within the coming years though, you can count on that.
Very true, waterboy526. I also live off of Leesville Rd. (I-540 exit #7) and it took me about 15-20 tops to get to GSK main campus (5 Moore Dr. in RTP). It wasn't bad at all.
55 is smooth sailing by 9am, at least from Morrisville Carpenter on into the Park. In the afternoons, things move a tad slower because of a couple of the stoplights.
On average, I'd say my commute is 8-10 minutes in the AM, 15-20 in the PM (usually between 6-6:30pm). And the Davis Dr and Louis Stephens expansions should improve things (at the very least, give more backup options when a wreck occurs).
[quote=Waterboy526;1318471]Also be advised that North Raleigh is a HUGE area and commuting times can vary. We live off Leesville rd. and 540 and my wife gets to her job at GSK in 15 minutes. If you live near rt.1/401 in North Raleigh then it could take a whole lot longer.
Also, traffic on 540 and 40 don't really get going until 7:30am. I leave for work at 6:30 (going to South East Raleigh) and traffic is extremely light in both directions. Not like in DC when traffic would be backed up at 5:30am.
Traffic will be getting worse here within the coming years though, you can count on that.[/QUOTE}
My exit from 540 is at 70, about 2 miles from the Leesville exit. These days I am seeing a lot of 5:00pm congestion building around 70 continuing just past the Leesville exit. People don't really know how to merge properly, and then there are the people who wait until the last minute to get over from the lanes marked "70 ONLY" even though they've driven 540 5 days a week. There are a few poorly planned spots like BrierCreek Parkway @ ALexander Place and the 540 exit ramp to 40, but unfortunately a lot of the traffic we see in the triangle area is caused by bad, inconsiderate drivers.
... and of course, the commute from southern Durham is shorter than all of those.
True. No slight to Durham meant-silly me assuming that the poster wouldn't already know that.
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