Another Pinellas County Relocation Question . . . (Tampa, Palm Harbor: homes, schools, live)

[Dumpy]

Yes, this is another relocation question--specifically, expected commute times to St. Pete from different towns in Pinellas County. My wife is considering attending USF's St. Pete campus (located on 7th avenue south near the water), and we're thinking about where we might live. We're looking at places like Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, and Oldsmar. Does anyone know what the commute times might be to and from these places during rush hour? According to mapquest, these areas are roughly between 20-28 miles away from USF, and it estimates that it will take between 27-37 minutes, although I don't think their figures account for rush hour traffic. Where we currently live, we're used to a 50-minute commute (we consider that "normal," not "long"), so we're interested in learning if it would take about the same amount of time or not. . .

[one reason we're interested in these areas is that I will probably work in downtown Tampa, and we think that my commute will be about the same length--let me know if I'm mistaken!]

Thanks for your help!

--dumpy

[SunKrist]

If you're already used to commuting 50 minutes each way, then you should have no problem with Pinellas County. Unless there is something abnormal going on to make the traffic go extra slow, it shouldn't take much longer than that to get from a given part of the county to another.

As far as commuting to downtown Tampa from the areas you mentioned, I actually think it would take less time to commute if you found a place nearer to USF. St. Pete has a lot to offer, and the Gandy bridge is right there at the north end of 4th St. near 94th Ave.

Shores9, a member of this forum, would probably have more information about that, though. He commutes to downtown Tampa several times a week. He lives in NE St. Pete.

[sydney1128]

The commute from North Pinellas to St. Pete will take you 45 min - 1 hour during rush hour, so if you are used to that you should be fine. And I know you didn't ask, but in my opinion Palm Harbor or Oldsmar would be better choices than Safety Harbor. They are further north, so the commute is a little longer than Safety Harbor, but Safety Harbor is a little over priced and there are a lot of not very nice areas right next to the really expensive ones.

[Dumpy]

Thanks, Sunshine and Sydney. That's very enlightening and helpful. I've read many complaints about the commute times in the area, but it is all relative. Besides, it could always improve if/when mass transit is built, right? We do like Palm Harbor--we've read good things about the schools, and the homes there are beautiful and cost less than half what they'd cost where I live now. Thanks again. . . .

Anyway, I'd certainly welcome other responses . . .