San Jose traffic (Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Alum Rock: house, schools, to live in)

[sonarrat]

I commute from Evergreen to north San Jose near the Milpitas border. I was originally going to live in Berryessa for ease of commute, but I couldn't resist the deal I was going to get in Evergreen. Google said that the commute would be 15 minutes. How hard could it be?

Well, the first time it took me 20 minutes just to get onto 101 from Capitol Expwy, it should have given me a hint. The timing lights are so slow, that alone accounts for 10 minutes. Once I got on, it takes 20 minutes to go about 8 miles; that's with no accidents. Then the rest of the way takes 5 minutes on surface streets. 45 minutes to go 10 miles.. on a good day.

I tried experimenting with other routes. First I tried taking King all the way up.. that didn't work. 50 minutes and crazy drivers. Then I tried taking White all the way up, but with all the schools hanging up traffic, it also took 50 minutes. I tried getting onto 101 at Yerba Buena instead, but the on-ramp is also the on-ramp for eastbound Capitol Expressway onto 101, so that didn't save any time. Capitol Expressway to 680 to Montague Expressway is sometimes better, but it's still a bumper to bumper crawl from Story to the on-ramp to 680 N, and then the right lane of 680 grinds to a halt a quarter-mile before the Montague exit. If I get off on Cropley instead, the light to get onto Montague alone takes 5 minutes plus. If I take 680 S to 101 N instead, there are timing lights to get onto 101, but at least my 20 minutes of driving gets me north of the 280/680 interchange nightmare, and it seems to be a fairly consistent 35 minutes total. And I've also tried Capitol Expwy to 87 - forget it.

And now I'm hearing that traffic is actually a lot lighter than it was a year ago. Wow.

[theonlymember]

680 then Montague is your best bet. 101 is the most well known freeway, so everyone takes 101

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by theonlymember

680 then Montague is your best bet. 101 is the most well known freeway, so everyone takes 101

I think his big issue is just getting to 680 from Evergreen.

[theonlymember]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

I think his big issue is just getting to 680 from Evergreen.

Oh yeah, its definitely a pain, but not as much a pain as 101 IMO, thus my comment that 680 is the best option.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by theonlymember

Oh yeah, its definitely a pain, but not as much a pain as 101 IMO, thus my comment that 680 is the best option.

Yes, but 680 does not go through Evergreen! He must use either 101 or Capitol just to get to 680, as you advise.

[sonarrat]

I've had days where it took 30 minutes to get to 680 via Capitol Expwy, because people pile onto it at Story to avoid the timing lights at 101. But most days it is my best route. If they ever install timing lights there, I'm going to have to get a helicopter.

[sonarrat]

Today was a total case in point. It took me 35 minutes to get from my house at Aborn/White onto 680 northbound on Capitol Expressway, 55 minutes end to end to get to Montague/Trimble. No accidents along the way - there was a big accident at the 101/880 interchange, so there was a bit of a domino effect, but nothing along my path. I feel trapped like a rat during morning commutes because there's no good way out. Three freeways within 5 miles of me and I can't get onto any of them in less than 20 minutes. I could actually get to work faster from Morgan Hill, and that's saying something.

[krudmonk]

What it's saying is that we need job center consolidation and better public transit.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

What it's saying is that we need job center consolidation and better public transit.

We certainly do. Driving to work is frustrating, but it's downright tame compared to trying to take public transit.. 2 1/2 hours one way. If I park at Alum Rock LRT, it's better as I can take it to the Component station, but by that point I've already gone through the worst of the traffic and I might as well just drive in. The Eastridge/Nieman extension will come too late for me too.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Today was a total case in point. It took me 35 minutes to get from my house at Aborn/White onto 680 northbound on Capitol Expressway, 55 minutes end to end to get to Montague/Trimble. No accidents along the way - there was a big accident at the 101/880 interchange, so there was a bit of a domino effect, but nothing along my path. I feel trapped like a rat during morning commutes because there's no good way out. Three freeways within 5 miles of me and I can't get onto any of them in less than 20 minutes. I could actually get to work faster from Morgan Hill, and that's saying something.

We lived on Westgrove Lane, right behind the McDonalds in your area. I remember the horrible commutes very well. The only real way around it is having a flexible schedule (or having someone carpool with you for that golden carpool lane freeway entrance on Capitol/101). There are no good alternative routes. I think I was leaving the house just before 6 am at one point and it helped a little bit.