Rush Hour Traffic From OAK to Walnut Creek (Oakland, Berkeley: hotel, home)

[ff52172]

Hello,

What is the morning and afternoon rush hour like from Oakland to Walnut Creek and back?

Can anyone help me out? Much thanks!!

[Ultrarunner]

I avoid it/driving whenever possible in commute traffic. I've never been there without a rush hour slowdown.

The bottleneck is the Caldecott Tunnel which has 3 bores. The middle bore alternates direction with the commute traffic.

At one time, alternating the middle tunnel worked quite well. The Governor was there last year to kick-off the construction of a 4th bore... which should help when it is completed in 2012???

[ff52172]

Thanks for the response...what is your opinion of using BART to commute from Lake Merritt area to WC? Would it take the same time/more time/less time than driving?

[lainie]

Going from Lake Merritt to Walnut Creek involves changing trains at MacArthur station. Actual train time is 8 minutes from Lake Merritt to MacArthur and 18 minutes from MacArthur to Walnut Creek. Wait time between trains can vary, sometimes the train you want is waiting, sometimes not. In my opinion, I would avoid commuting in either direction during commute hours.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by ff52172

Thanks for the response...what is your opinion of using BART to commute from Lake Merritt area to WC? Would it take the same time/more time/less time than driving?

When I left the corporate world, driving the opposite commute (from Oakland to Walnut Creek) during commute times wasn't TOO awful. But that was 10 years ago.

BART took a little longer, but not much -- but it was more expensive than driving. Depends on your parking.

BUT -- There are couple of shortcuts. (At least there were then) If you go on Highway 13, and the back up to the 24 ramp is bad -- bypass it, go up to Tunnel Road and use the over pass to the on ramp that's right at the mouth of the tunnel. Usually the drivers are starting to move by then. A totally legal move.

ON the way home -- when you near the Caldecott, stay in the right lane... the Gateway Exit lane. Get off at Gateway, turn left at the stop sign and get right back on the freeway -- you bypass a lot of traffic and you keep moving (I know that's a not nice thing to do...but it keep you moving) You also have the option of getting off a Fish Ranch Rd, if the tunnel isn't moving quickly. At that stop, turn right and go up the hill. At the next stop go straight and down the hill -- you'll end up behind the Claremont Hotel and take a left at the stop, another left at the light and you're on 13 in Berkeley/Oakland heading towards the freeway portion.... and you've totally bypassed the tunnel entirely.

Now -- the coming home portion isn't a time saver, but I liked doing it for a change anyway.... moving is better than sitting in traffic.

[aphrodite]

I do that commute on a regular basis. It really is not too bad. On peak commute times (7 am to 9 am) it takes anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. If there is an accident, it can take over an hour. During off hours (after 7 pm or so) it only takes about 20 minutes.