Traffic?????? (San Antonio, Howe, Van: neighborhood, construction, living)

[okies08]

My husband and I are looking to move to SA, but a little scared of the traffic. What highways are the worst? Of course rush hour is bad in any big city, but are there areas to avoid completely? His office will be just inside the 410 loop on I-10. Concerned about where to live, as living too far out seems to be a factor in traffic. He'd like only about a 15 min. commute.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

[miaht82]

Traffic is really not all that bad as people make it out to be here. I used to live in D.C. and this traffic is a breath of fresh air. You can live anywhere north of that aobut 7-8 miles north up to stone oak, north central areas and still be within 15 minute drive to work. Anything else would be an exaggeration. Of course accidents and stalled vehicles make it longer but that is not too often.

[SweethomeSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by miaht82

Traffic is really not all that bad as people make it out to be here. I used to live in D.C. and this traffic is a breath of fresh air. You can live anywhere north of that aobut 7-8 miles north up to stone oak, north central areas and still be within 15 minute drive to work. Anything else would be an exaggeration. Of course accidents and stalled vehicles make it longer but that is not too often.

San Antonio traffic is manageble thanks too a extensive freeway system. One of the largest in the nation. It would have been a nightmare if the city didn't have such a network.

I have been to D.C, and maryland many times, and yes that place has bad traffic. It has to many narrow roads and the freeway system is not great.

[Steel Man]

The access roads along the freeways/highways are more dangerous. Way too many times you have people entering and exiting the access road at the same time in a short distance. Some separate ramps have been built, but not enough (due to higher cost).

[rd2007]

The traffic problems are a result of the bad drivers. That's the thing you need to worry about here. I've lived and travelled all over and these are absolutely the worst drivers in the world. Even in Naples, Italy it's not this bad and those people are freaking crazy. Just imagine a city full of drunk drivers and people that are sober, but drive like drunk drivers and that's pretty much 98% of the population.. BTW, the other 1.99% are driving in the left lane about 10 MPH below the speed limit.. I'm in that tiny .01% minority that luckily doesn't own a gun..

[SilverCreek78250]

Originally Posted by rd2007

The traffic problems are a result of the bad drivers. That's the thing you need to worry about here. I've lived and travelled all over and these are absolutely the worst drivers in the world. Even in Naples, Italy it's not this bad and those people are freaking crazy. Just imagine a city full of drunk drivers and people that are sober, but drive like drunk drivers and that's pretty much 98% of the population.. BTW, the other 1.99% are driving in the left lane about 10 MPH below the speed limit.. I'm in that tiny .01% minority that luckily doesn't own a gun..

Okay, I've driven in Naples, Italy and IMO, they are worse drivers, but not by much.

Piggy backing on what a few others have said, for as poorly planned as the roadways are and the fact that the city is not built on a grid system (streets running primarily north-south and east-west), traffic is a breeze.

My drive is primarily bumper to bumper both to and from work, but for the most part, it moves. Try some place like Orlando, FL or DC or LA. That is some crappy traffic.

Oh, and if you are new here, it will take a while to get used to all the start again stop again pick-up-a-mile-later street names. Military Drive (as opposed to Military Highway) starts all the way over on the south east side of town and goes all the way out to the Sea World Area and has multiple breaks where the road ends and simply picks up again. On Highway 151, you can exit Military Drive between Pinn rd and Loop 410, or you can continue north and exit it over by Sea World! But, you can't get from the Military Drive (by Pinn rd and 410) to Military Drive (by Sea World) by staying on Military Drive! How crazy is that?

No wonder our drivers all drive like they are drunk - they are just confused!

[Chakapu]

grrr. Here we go again. I really don't get the argument that because it's so much worse elsewhere, it's ok to have 1 hr commutes here to go 20 miles. Yes, I've lived in much worse traffic cities, doesn't mean I *want* to deal with sitting bumper to bumper on the highway everyday.

One bonus for the OP is that given your location, the medical area or just inside the loop - there's agreat neighborhood east of I-10 just inside 410 and north of Vance Jackson that would be really close. The only problem with the medical center is not the freeway, but the surface roads. It can take 20 mins to go 2-3 miles at rush hour. Once you get on the highway it's not so bad.

We live downtown and I commute to the med center (just a mile or so north of the interchange). If I can by-pass downtown traffic it's about 15 mins on the highway (another 5-10 on the surface roads).

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by okies08

My husband and I are looking to move to SA, but a little scared of the traffic. What highways are the worst? Of course rush hour is bad in any big city, but are there areas to avoid completely? His office will be just inside the 410 loop on I-10. Concerned about where to live, as living too far out seems to be a factor in traffic. He'd like only about a 15 min. commute.

You didn't say where you're moving from, so it's hard to tell you if traffic is better or worse than you're used to.

In any case, the good news is that where his office is located, they're just wrapping-up construction to widen the freeway and upgrade the 10/410 interchange. Traffic in that area has been flowing pretty well overall lately, even in rush hour. However, once you get further out on I-10, things do bog down during the rush hours, and 410 a few miles east and west of I-10 backs-up pretty regularly as well. Anyplace along 1604 has frequent congestion.

Moderator cut: website removed

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by Chakapu

grrr. Here we go again. I really don't get the argument that because it's so much worse elsewhere, it's ok to have 1 hr commutes here to go 20 miles. Yes, I've lived in much worse traffic cities, doesn't mean I *want* to deal with sitting bumper to bumper on the highway everyday.

One bonus for the OP is that given your location, the medical area or just inside the loop - there's agreat neighborhood east of I-10 just inside 410 and north of Vance Jackson that would be really close. The only problem with the medical center is not the freeway, but the surface roads. It can take 20 mins to go 2-3 miles at rush hour. Once you get on the highway it's not so bad.

We live downtown and I commute to the med center (just a mile or so north of the interchange). If I can by-pass downtown traffic it's about 15 mins on the highway (another 5-10 on the surface roads).

Is it just me or even at five o' clock i can get from 410 & (87) Rigsby Ave all the way to 1-10 and DeZavala in under 45 minutes using 410. Where do you people live that the commute take an hour???

[rd2007]

Originally Posted by SilverCreek78250

Okay, I've driven in Naples, Italy and IMO, they are worse drivers, but not by much.

Piggy backing on what a few others have said, for as poorly planned as the roadways are and the fact that the city is not built on a grid system (streets running primarily north-south and east-west), traffic is a breeze.

My drive is primarily bumper to bumper both to and from work, but for the most part, it moves. Try some place like Orlando, FL or DC or LA. That is some crappy traffic.

Oh, and if you are new here, it will take a while to get used to all the start again stop again pick-up-a-mile-later street names. Military Drive (as opposed to Military Highway) starts all the way over on the south east side of town and goes all the way out to the Sea World Area and has multiple breaks where the road ends and simply picks up again. On Highway 151, you can exit Military Drive between Pinn rd and Loop 410, or you can continue north and exit it over by Sea World! But, you can't get from the Military Drive (by Pinn rd and 410) to Military Drive (by Sea World) by staying on Military Drive! How crazy is that?

No wonder our drivers all drive like they are drunk - they are just confused!

but at least in Naples it is like a controlled ballet of near misses and crazy squeezes
You did a great job of explaining things and your point about streets ending and suddenly starting again is something that drove me crazy. Trying to find something "on Military"can be an exercise in frustration.
I still say people need to drive better though. My main office is @ Callaghan/410 and any morning I have to go there is torture. The worst parts are the drivers in the left lane sitting there with nobody for at least 100 yards in front of them, the gravel trucks/big trucks hanging in the left lane when it's stop and go and they take forever to go, and the people constantly changing lanes any time one lane crawls slightly faster.