DUVALL anyone??? (Seattle, Redmond, Carnation: house, neighborhoods, preschool)

[systerhuff]

Hey,
My husband accepted at Microsoft, and we really like the look and feel of duvall. WHAT exactly is the rush hour commute like? And does the Microsoft shuttle go there? We really want to get a good idea of traffic from there. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks,

[scirocco22]

I think everybody will agree that traffic coming from and going to Duvall to and from Redmond is not going to be a piece of cake.

The Avondale, Novelty Hill and Union Hill corridors are at a choke point and way over capacity. It's going to be years before improvements will be in place in the area. A huge interchange is planned for Bear Creek area at the SR 202 and 520 convergence but will be some time before it's completed.

I don't think the Microsoft shuttle is running to Duvall but Metro does have a shuttle out of Duvall which will go into the campus but does take a round-about way (milk run-type routing).

Metro Route 232 Timetable, Weekday

[allforcats]

Scirocco's comments, as always, are spot on. I would only add that since your husband is now/will soon be a MS employee, ask his relocation advisor at MS about the MS shuttle. I doubt that it goes to and from Duvall, but we're only guessing -- the MS relocation advisor is the one with the quick, correct answer. The MS advisor is also being paid to help you find a location to live in that will satisfy you. DO let that person help you.

As for Scirocco's note about the public transit METRO bus, tons of people use the METRO busses to commute, as they're comfortable, direct, usually on time, and let you forget about all driving concerns, and just enjoy the ride by reading or working on your computer, writing poetry, napping, whatever you like :-) The regional bus transit system is as useful and critical here as the New York subway system is there.

[seattlerain]

Scirocco is right, the traffic going and coming from Duvall is awful. Fortunately I telecommute, but on the occasions when I do have to drive into Redmond in the morning it can be pretty bad.

One morning several weeks ago I left my house at 8:15 am, and it took me nearly 45 minutes to get up over Novelty Hill and into Redmond. Of course, if you leave earlier it wouldn't be nearly so bad...

To the best of my knowledge the MS shuttle does not operate in or out of Duvall.

[bigbyrd]

My wife has worked at Evergreen Hospital in Kirland for the past 5 years which is approximately 27 miles one way. Her mornig commute takes 35 minutes and her evening commute slightly longer. Were it not for an urgent family need we would not be selling our home which is 8 miles east of Duvall ( Lake Joy) as there are much worse commutes. Many microsoft employees in our neighborhood

[Seattlemom]

I live in Duvall. We love it here. Perfect family community. Traffic is really no that bad. My husband does the MS Redmond commute. He is in a vanpool which is MS sponsered and paid for. The commute averages between 20-40 minutes which is about average commute time for most people in the Seattle area. Also the bus system does have a route which take about 45 minutes which you can use your laptop and catch up on email. I take my ds into Redmond around 9AM for preschool and traffic is much better by then easy 15-20 minute commute and I don't have to get on a highway.

I would highly recommend Duvall. Lots MSers in Duvall.

IMO - You'll to deal with traffic where you end up in the Seattle area.

[larrykcragun]

Horses make it easier from Duvall to Microsoft than do cars in the rush hour. Congratulations on Microsoft. He gets to start just as they change their name to MicroHoo.

[systerhuff]

Thanks! My husband and I have two children, and are planning on getting pregnant with #3 in the near future, so we definitely want a house with a yard. So coming right out of business school, we obviously don't have 600k for a good house in Redmond, that has enough space, or a yard for us. That's why Duvall really seems appealing to us. I know that we're looking at a commute then anyway you cut it, so thanks for the exact info on the commute. We're fine to do up to 40-45 minutes, but really don't want anything over that. So, it's usually between 35-45 in rush hour then?? How long have you been in Duvall?

[toughguy]

Duvall: Meth Epicenter

[NWChris]

toughguy, I think that's a rather unfair statement. We live in "Stillwater" which is smack dab between Duvall and Carnation and there are many nice neighborhoods in both towns, and a lot of great people. Like others have said, more and more Microsofties are moving out this way too so that is sure to change the demographics of the area a bit as well (not saying they were bad to begin with!!)

My husband works at MS and he has like 3-4 different routes he takes, depending on time of day and if there's flooding or whatnot. He usually goes in between 9-10 so his morning commute is not bad at all... sometimes the evening (5-7) can get longer.