What is the commute like from Cumberland area to Perimeter Center? (Smyrna: apartment complex, house)

[autiger92]

My daughter and I are in town touring apartment complexes. She will work at The Terraces Perimeter Center. She is considering an apt in the Cumberland area. We drove the route this evening at rush hour (5:20pm-5:40), and it was shockingly easy. Is this normal? A result of COVID/telecommuting? What about the morning rush? I know at any given time a wreck can cause gridlock...

[Citykid3785]

I would say you are correct, this is always an easy commute, even moreso during COVID.

The only "gotcha" is the intersections of the perimeter area during rush hour in NON covid times. They are terribly inadequate, and thus the city hires traffic cops to man the stoplights of just about everyone, M-F.

But even then, a sub 30 min commute no matter what

[autiger92]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

I would say you are correct, this is always an easy commute, even moreso during COVID.

The only "gotcha" is the intersections of the perimeter area during rush hour in NON covid times. They are terribly inadequate, and thus the city hires traffic cops to man the stoplights of just about everyone, M-F.

But even then, a sub 30 min commute no matter what

Thank you! good to know.

[Humanista]

It will be about 30 minutes on average. It might be a bit easier if you can get off on 75 and go to Cumberland that way vs following 285 around. One of my issues with this commute was it can be a bit erratic. I used to tack on 15 minutes just to make sure I was on time and sometimes I wasn't.

[Need4Camaro]

Its kind of a reverse commute in the evening, most will be coming back westbound, during the morning you may or may not hit traffic (non covid)

[NC2ATL60]

Due to the pandemic, the traffic on the top end is really light these days. But as traffic starts to pick up, she will be in the normal flow of traffic, as most are heading east (from cobb and points south) in the morning towards the Central Perimeter and then reverse in the afternoons.

I think this is a very doable commute, and even in the "thick" of traffic, it will take no more than 30-40 minutes.

[skiime]

Wait, I think some people are a little confused here. Are you saying she'll be driving from Cumberland to Perimeter Center in the morning or afternoon? If that's the morning commute, it's going to be pretty awful. I used to do it from Smyrna to the Terraces about 8 years ago, and it was terrible then, but now, 285 has gotten so much worse. It's not the worst commute in the city, and being that close to 285 will help, but I would still plan on 45 minutes most mornings, and about an hour in the afternoons. Getting from the Terraces to 285 can be pretty rough.

[CMMom]

I used to drive from Dunwoody to the area near Truist Park and back every AM to drop my kids at their private school. If I left my house at 7:00, I generally made it back home at 8:15. The portion of the trip from 75/285 to the Perimeter area took a little more than 30 minutes. That is UNLESS there's a wreck, rainstorm, or when the 85 bridge collapsed and traffic was a nightmare for a couple of months. It is doable, but you do need to turn on your TV or radio as soon as you wake up to make adjustments for any last-minute issues. The way home will be worse in the afternoon. There's always cars stacked up in the right hand lanes as you approach 75. This starts at about 3:00 every day.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by skiime

Wait, I think some people are a little confused here. Are you saying she'll be driving from Cumberland to Perimeter Center in the morning or afternoon? If that's the morning commute, it's going to be pretty awful. I used to do it from Smyrna to the Terraces about 8 years ago, and it was terrible then, but now, 285 has gotten so much worse. It's not the worst commute in the city, and being that close to 285 will help, but I would still plan on 45 minutes most mornings, and about an hour in the afternoons. Getting from the Terraces to 285 can be pretty rough.

I don't drive it a lot, but its always been awful.

There's no way its "easy" either direction.

Right now is definitely NOT normal. Traffic is much lighter everywhere.

[autiger92]

We drove it again today--from The Terraces to the apartment complex in Cumberland--during evening rush hour in the rain. It was a little slower because of the rain but right at 20 minutes. She feels pretty comfortable with it because her job is flexible on the hours, so she could avoid rush hour if it goes back to pre-covid conditions. She will also be able to work from home some days.

I appreciate everyone's input!