Commuting From West Side of Atlanta (Marietta, Smyrna: rental, crime rates, houses)

[curtstein]

I am looking at moving to the Atlanta area and work on the Nothwest side near I75 and I285; traffic down I75 looks like a nightmare, and traffic from the NE side (Lawrenceville) looks like a bigger nightmare. But, I noticed (on traffic.com) there is never any traffic on the west side of I285 and I20 (west of I285), so I'm thinking Villa Rica, Lithia Springs, or even Dallas may be nice areas to live and not a whole lot of traffic to deal with coming in on I20 East to I285 North. I'm not sure I beleive traffic.com's lack of traffic warnings on the west side of Atlanta. Can anyone comment on the traffic? How about living out on the west side?

Thanks!

[engrms01]

The reason that you don't see traffic information there is because ga dot doesn't provide it, not because it is any better on the west side. The actual trip time varies depending on when you leave. I live on the NW side, so I don't have the west side time table down, but I'd suggest listening to the traffic reports on one of the radio stations live feeds over the internet. Here's 3 that you can try: www.b985.com; (broken link) www.star94.com, www.allthehitsq100.com. Hope that helps!

[Figment 07]

I-20 does get its share of traffic, both ways. There's a heavy volume of truck traffic on I-20. The ramps and merge lanes from 285 to I-20 are severely in need of a redesign or widening. I was hopeful when I saw heavy construction equipment clearing the right shoulder, but it turned out to be only a sound-buffering metal wall going up for the houses backing up to the interstate.

Another thing, people tell me in all seriousness that they don't want the eastern sun in their eyes on the morning commute and the western sun going home.

Curt, if working in northwest Atlanta, have you searched Smyrna or Marietta? You mentioned Villa Rica and it is certainly more affordable. It's about 30-35 miles just from Exit 24 on 1-20 to I-285, too, and you must take into consideration the costs of commuting (not just monetary costs).

For westside convenience to I-285, you might look at The Tributary or other subdivisions on the southeast side of Douglasville. That's off I-20 not far from 285.

[curtstein]

I didn't care much for the crime rates and schools (middle) in Marietta, but I like what I've seen in the Kenneshaw area; however, the I75 south commute looks like a nightmare!

[Figment 07]

the I75 south commute looks like a nightmare!

It is. Recurring daily.

The west side is growing like crazy. But where isn't it growing like crazy around here?

Any chance you could do a short-term rental near your job maybe for the summer while you get your bearings (even Residence Inn with a pool for the kids, or something similar) before you lock into a house and school district?

[curtstein]

We may do that. Thanks for the tips!