I-85 Peachpass---does this translate to easy commute? (Marietta, Alpharetta: to rent, house)

[Jenmere]

Hello All...I am moving in the coming weeks and still haven't figured out housing. Have been looking in Cobb but recently had a friend tell me that they love Gwinnett, said that Special Ed program is top-notch and that I should really explore this option as I have a special needs child. I was concerned because the areas she mentioned are further out (Buford, Hamilton Mill area) than where I have been looking( Marietta, Kennesaw) but she said that Peach Pass actually makes the commute easier than 75. Any thoughts on this?
About us:
Plan to rent for first year, son in 4th grade, prefer a newer home with a good side-walk swim/tennis kind of neighborhood and I do have flexibility with my job ( will work from home a few days a week and then one day at Alpharetta office and 2 days at Buckhead (office by the St. Regis).
Thanks to all who have some insight on the Peachpass lane at 85. Does it move? What would you anticipate the real world commute time to be if wanting to be in office around 9am and would head home around .

[sedimenjerry]

Well, til it's extended it won't help the portions out near the Mall of GA and going to Hamilton Mill. That area is bad at peak times but not for as long as 85 south of 316. I've used the HOT lane a lot on the edges of rush hour. After 845/9 (often later) in the morning and before 430 or after 630 in the evening. It works great then but I've heard it still backs up during peak times. If you had to get in at 9, you'd probably run into traffic anyway, but, I don't think you'd be worse off than 75. Tough to say, it would be a bad commute no matter what at that time. Now, if you didn't have to get in til 10 or even 930, I wouldn't be as worried.

[Atlmike]

Its great about 3pm-till about 5 but it would be 10x better if they got rid of the hov lanes that run into the city and like mentioned earlier ext up to mall of ga.


My dislike for the hov lanes are that everybody uses them as if they are reg lanes and its not 100% enforced even worse left lane hogs love to get in them.

[ElleKaye]

I do not know whether Cobb or Gwinnett has better Special Ed programs.

I do know that traffic in Kennesaw was bad enough go make me do a do-over and get out. Although 75 and 41 are congested enough in their own right, even getting out of your subdivision for the opportunity to sit in the traffic is a struggle.

That being said, I think Gwinnett is worse. I do not see a benefit to Peachpass during the rush hours which is when you would need it the most and unless your house is sitting on 85, it takes even longer to get the chance to use it.

You have equal chance of getting a neighborhood with sidewalks in both areas. I guess the deciding factor with that would depend on which place has more areas you wish to walk to. I'm pretty cool if I can walk to and from a grocery store and a park. I think walkability is a personal decision based on what you'd like to do after you got some place on foot.

I must have missed it, but your destination when driving weighs heavily on which location would be better. Let's say your destination is Norcross, then there would be no argument that any place in Gwinnett would be better for you than Cobb.

[ElleKaye]

OK, I circled back and saw you were going to Buckhead. Cobb would be the better commute.

[jsvh]

PeachPass lanes are guaranteed to move at at least 40mph.

I am not familiar with special ed schools between the two, but would recommend Gwinnett over Cobb for commute. Especially going to Buckhead. From Cobb you have to take gridlocked two-land backroads to get to Buckhead, from Gwinett you can get on 400 from 85. Also, Cobb traffic is already some of the worse in the metro and that will not be helped by the relocation of the Braves to there.

[red92s]

Originally Posted by jsvh

PeachPass lanes are guaranteed to move at at least 40mph.

I think that is the stated goal of the managed lanes, but it's far from a "guarantee".

[ElleKaye]

Originally Posted by red92s

I think that is the stated goal of the managed lanes, but it's far from a "guarantee".

OK, not we have moved into a different arena concerning your expectations. You will be sitting and not driving at all for much of the trip. 40 mph would be a gift in any lane.

[ATLTJL]

The Peach Pass lane absolutely DOES NOT travel 40 mph during peak times. At the tail end of rush hour (after 8:45am) you can save about 10 minutes by using the HOT lane. Between 7am and 8:45am, it sometimes isn't even the fastest moving lane. I would not make a decision based on HOT lane, and Hamilton Mill is freaking far out there.

[red92s]

I guess to answer the original question simply: no, the Peach Pass does not necessarily translate to an easy commute. When there is a big accident, or something catches on fire, everyone feels the pain, including those in the Lexus Lanes. It's also not inexpensive if it's something you plan to use on a regular basis in both directions.