Traffic Questions (San Antonio, Nacogdoches, Anton: high school, live in, professionals)

[goodiee2shoes]

I am doing some research about the traffic around San Antonio and had a few questions.

Where are most people commuting to work? downtown...or is there a large business park or other area where a lot of professionals work?

What specific routes are the busiest to these areas?

If the route includes a freeway what exits do most people use to get to downtown or to other business areas?

What specific times are the busiest for these routes?


Thanks in advance for your answers!

[TheGreekPotato]

San Antonio traffic is actually pretty predictable. Many people who commute, are commuting to the LOOP/Interstate interchanges. Thes areas, along with the downtown area, have the largest business complexes and office buildings. In fact, downtown is one giant interchange. IH-10, IH 35, IH 37, and US 281 all merge in or around downtown. Other places of congestion are the Loop 410 @ US 281, Loop 410 @ IH 35, Loop 1604 @ IH-10, Loop 1604 @ US 281, etc. Pretty normal for a city without a light rail or classic mass transit system. The busses don't help because San Antonians who do own vehicles won't use them. Myself included.

[Mister]

Originally Posted by TheGreekPotato

The busses don't help because San Antonians who do own vehicles won't use them. Myself included.

I'll be the first person on the bus every morning if they can shorten the 2.5-hour transit time to anything even close to the 25 minutes I can drive it.

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by Mister

I'll be the second person on the bus every morning if they can shorten the 2.5-hour transit time to anything even close to the ten minutes I can drive it.

Agreed, after fixing it.

[TheGreekPotato]

Originally Posted by Mister

I'll be the first person on the bus every morning if they can shorten the 2.5-hour transit time to anything even close to the 25 minutes I can drive it.

Totally. When I was a kid, I used to ride the busses all over San Antonio. And that was because I was a kid and had all the time in the world. Or when I began working at Whataburger in high school, I would have to start walking to the bus stop an hour and a half before my shift.

Getting to North Star Mall from O'Conner and Nacogdoches was an adventure. More so if I decided to go to Crossroads.

[88txaggie]

A related question - are there HOV lanes in SA? In DFW the HOV lanes are sometimes 'limited access' which means you better know where you can get on and off ahead of time. Is SA like that?

[Mister]

Originally Posted by 88txaggie

A related question - are there HOV lanes in SA? In DFW the HOV lanes are sometimes 'limited access' which means you better know where you can get on and off ahead of time. Is SA like that?

I've never seen an HOV lane in San Antonio, but I've only lived here for 2 years and I haven't traveled every inch of freeway.

[majormadmax]

I have never seen an HOV lane in San Antonio.

And to understand San Antonio's traffic system, all you have to do is look at a map of the city. You will see the major roadways, couple that with the knowledge that the majority of commuters live in the west, NW or NE parts of town; add the usual morning and afternoon commute periods, and you will know where the majority of traffic flows are.

There is a simple way to beat it, get a job that allows you to go in and leave early. rd2007 and I do that, in by 6:00am and gone at 2:00pm. Not only do we get great parking at work (the lots fill up fast), but we beat the congestion both ways. Of course, getting up that early sucks...but it sure makes for nice, long afternoons. That is, if I don't fall asleep on the couch!

Cheers! M2

[TheGreekPotato]

Originally Posted by 88txaggie

A related question - are there HOV lanes in SA? In DFW the HOV lanes are sometimes 'limited access' which means you better know where you can get on and off ahead of time. Is SA like that?

San Antonio does not have HOV lanes on any of its highways. I'm not sure if any planned contruction projects include them either.

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by majormadmax

I have never seen an HOV lane in San Antonio.

And to understand San Antonio's traffic system, all you have to do is look at a map of the city. You will see the major roadways, couple that with the knowledge that the majority of commuters live in the west, NW or NE parts of town; add the usual morning and afternoon commute periods, and you will know where the majority of traffic flows are.

There is a simple way to beat it, get a job that allows you to go in and leave early. rd2007 and I do that, in by 6:00am and gone at 2:00pm. Not only do we get great parking at work (the lots fill up fast), but we beat the congestion both ways. Of course, getting up that early sucks...but it sure makes for nice, long afternoons. That is, if I don't fall asleep on the couch!

Cheers! M2

Better yet, never leave the driveway..work from home. or commute to work doing 500 MPH @ 34000 feet in a phat first class seat. Maybe retire.