Traffic on I-15?? (Bountiful, American Fork, North Salt Lake: rent, house, schools)

[BuhByeCalifornia]

Hi everyone!

I was posting here a few months ago when we just started building our house in North Salt Lake but since our home is still about 6 - 7 mos out from completion, we've decided to make the big move and rent in Bountiful until our house is finished. We move next month! We're so excited and ready to officially be Utahns!

So...the reason we chose NSL was to be close to the airport, closer to SLC (more diversity), and we've heard such great things about Davis County schools (thanks to this forum! )

The original plan was for dh to commute back and forth to his job in Southern CA (which is why close to the airport was key) BUT he has a fantastic opportunity in American Fork. The job isn't a done deal yet...but he's been in interviews and meetings for it for seriously 6 months now...and has another (and hopefully final) meeting in American Fork in a week.

True, Bountiful / NSL to American Fork is not the typical 10 minute commute to work I hear so often from locals BUT dh's current commute here is 1.5 hours ONE WAY simply because of LA traffic.

Distance-wise, it's similar - just under 40 miles...BUT in Utah, people tell me he will be going against traffic during rush hour.

But honestly, what is traffic like in Utah? Is it anywhere near the GRIDLOCK (5 - 10 miles per hour or dead stops at a time) we experience here in Los Angeles? Or do you consider traffic going 40 miles per hour rather than 65 miles per hour??

Though my friends in Bountiful tell me, "Wow...American Fork is FARRR!", I think - "Any commute for my hubby under an hour is a DREAM!"

Thanks!

[Calibelle]

Ya, that's a far drive, until your house is finished. In traffic.... excpect over an hour, to an hour and a half on bad days. Could even be longer. But if you are only going to be renting in Bountiful temporarily, and then you are going to be in NSL, I wouldn't pass up a great job opportunity in A.F. It may be a hard commute from Bountiful, until your house is finished, but a good job is a good job.

Good luck in what ever you choose!

[coolcats]

NSL is the next town south of Bountiful, so even that won’t shorten the commute significantly. Traffic will be bad on I-15 from NSL to downtown SLC, which is about 5 miles maybe. Then it should be pretty good for the rest of Salt Lake Country. I’m not sure how Utah county would be. Your ship may have sailed since you are already building a house, but have you considered southern Salt Lake County? That would shorten the commute considerably.

I went from a 20 mile-commute that took an hour in Washington DC, to a 5-mile, 10 minute commute here. I am so much happier. Some days I go home for lunch. I have a life after work. I can leave by 7:20, and be at work by 7:30. And I never deal with traffic. I will never go back to the commuter lifestyle again.