Ok, this is getting ridiculous. Help with afternoon commute (Downtown to Buckhead) (Atlanta: live, airport)

[dan9124]

Just started a job this week. I know there's gonna be traffic, I get that. My problem is actually getting to the connector. My starting point is the parking garage at Peachtree center, at the intersection of International and Courtland. Is there an easier way to get on 75/85N than drifting down to Spring St and Ivan Alan Blvd? I think I went south from the garage on Monday and it seemed to work out but can't remember how the hell I did it. It was also around 6:45 on Monday (usually get off around 6) so that probably played a role in the easiness too.

Also, is anyone familiar with the Lenox Marta station? Peachtree Center has a station right under it so that would be convenient, as long as the Lenox station isn't a total madhouse in the morning. Which train would I need to aim to catch to be downtown by 9? Thanks.

[Atlantasfinest]

You would be much better off with catching Marta daily to downtown If you live or will be commuting from walking distance of the Lenox Station. If you need to drive you would be better served by driving to the Lindbergh Station (Not sure If Lenox Station has parking?) and taking The Gold or Red Line South towards the airport and getting off at Peachtree Center. Will also save you money on parking, gas most importantly alot of stress. The Lenox Station is one of nicest stations in the system and Peachtree Station one of the most unique so you'll be just fine...not a madhouse at all its covered as well.

Lenox Station is on the Gold Line (Doraville headed North and Airport headed South) MARTA - Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and it will take you about 20 minutes to ride from the Lenox Station to Peachtree Center. It's literally a Breeze Breezecard.com ...Take Marta It's Smarta .

[dan9124]

Thanks for the input. I'll have to drive to a station, but on Marta's website, it lists the Lenox station as having parking. Were you maybe thinking of the Buckhead station? That one doesn't have parking according to the website. I think I'm gonna try Marta next week and see how it goes.

[waronxmas]

Also, there is no need to get on the highway if you are going from Buckhead to Downtown.

You could take Piedmont Ave down to 14th, then take a left on Courtland and go about 20 blocks or so and you'll end up right behind Peachtree Center.

or

You can take Northside drive straight down to Marietta street and then go up Baker or International Boulevard.

Both routes will give you little to know traffic....except Piedmont in the evening. In which case you can just take Peachtree to Buckhead which usually doesn't have any traffic going northbound.

But mostly I'm with Atlantasfinest. Just take MARTA, it's much easier.

I do that commute each day from Lenox to Arts center. With walking included it is just 15 to 20 mins. AND it has the bonus of being able to read or just zone out before getting to work.

[johnatl]

Originally Posted by dan9124

Thanks for the input. I'll have to drive to a station, but on Marta's website, it lists the Lenox station as having parking. Were you maybe thinking of the Buckhead station? That one doesn't have parking according to the website. I think I'm gonna try Marta next week and see how it goes.

There is parking at Lenox. Most folks don't realize that it's in the base of the Atlanta Plaza tower across the street. That's why there is an enclosed pedestrian bridge across East Paces Ferry, about half a block down from the main station entrance on the corner.

[Atlantasfinest]

Sorry guys didnt know there was parking available at Lenox Station...I'm a E/W rider Ashby Station to Five Points for work and Midtown/Lindbergh/InmanPark/Decatur for play so I dont get up that way too much .

[bikefrontier]

I work down at Peachtree Center (SunTrust buildling) and live up in Buckhead (by Lindbergh station). In the past 2 years, Ive taken MARTA and driven, both for extended periods of time. In my opinion, driving is quicker, but MARTA (on a whole, not including days when the train breaks) is less stressful. Door to door: Driving for me is 20, MARTA is 30. There is a trick associated with getting on 75/85 from peachtree center, though, and before I found it, driving SUCKED.

Here it is: DO NOT USE THE WILLIAMS / IVAN ALLEN JR ON RAMPS. Especially coming from where you are (southeast of those ramps), it is absolutely horrendous. There are ramps at the corner of Linden and Spring. that are MUCH better.

Here is your best route:
North on Peachtree Center Ave
Merge on to Peachtree St
Immediate Left on Ralph McGill Blvd
Right on W Peachtree St
Left on Linden
Straight onto 75/85 North

There are a couple of nuances however:
1. Getting onto Ralph McGill right after merging onto Peachtree St from Peachtree Center is interesting. If you find that its not to your liking, take a left on Baker from Peachtree Center, then a right on Peachtree St (avoiding the merge), then take the left on Ralph McGill.
2. Getting over to the left lane on W Peachtree St in enough time to make a left on Linden is interesting when theres alot of traffic, because there is usually a line of cars. No real work-around for that, so youll just have to tough it out. But at the time you are leaving work (post 6pm), you should be fine.

I do this everyday, and its honestly 20 minutes for me (door to door).

[dan9124]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

Also, there is no need to get on the highway if you are going from Buckhead to Downtown.

You could take Piedmont Ave down to 14th, then take a left on Courtland and go about 20 blocks or so and you'll end up right behind Peachtree Center.

or

You can take Northside drive straight down to Marietta street and then go up Baker or International Boulevard.

Both routes will give you little to know traffic....except Piedmont in the evening. In which case you can just take Peachtree to Buckhead which usually doesn't have any traffic going northbound.

But mostly I'm with Atlantasfinest. Just take MARTA, it's much easier.

I do that commute each day from Lenox to Arts center. With walking included it is just 15 to 20 mins. AND it has the bonus of being able to read or just zone out before getting to work.

Thanks for the help. I took the Piedmont Rd/Ave to 14th route this morning. You were right about no traffic, but with all the red lights it seemed to take about the same amount of time. A lot less stressful of a drive though.

Originally Posted by akress

I work down at Peachtree Center (SunTrust buildling) and live up in Buckhead (by Lindbergh station). In the past 2 years, Ive taken MARTA and driven, both for extended periods of time. In my opinion, driving is quicker, but MARTA (on a whole, not including days when the train breaks) is less stressful. Door to door: Driving for me is 20, MARTA is 30. There is a trick associated with getting on 75/85 from peachtree center, though, and before I found it, driving SUCKED.

Here it is: DO NOT USE THE WILLIAMS / IVAN ALLEN JR ON RAMPS. Especially coming from where you are (southeast of those ramps), it is absolutely horrendous. There are ramps at the corner of Linden and Spring. that are MUCH better.

Here is your best route:
North on Peachtree Center Ave
Merge on to Peachtree St
Immediate Left on Ralph McGill Blvd
Right on W Peachtree St
Left on Linden
Straight onto 75/85 North

There are a couple of nuances however:
1. Getting onto Ralph McGill right after merging onto Peachtree St from Peachtree Center is interesting. If you find that its not to your liking, take a left on Baker from Peachtree Center, then a right on Peachtree St (avoiding the merge), then take the left on Ralph McGill.
2. Getting over to the left lane on W Peachtree St in enough time to make a left on Linden is interesting when theres alot of traffic, because there is usually a line of cars. No real work-around for that, so youll just have to tough it out. But at the time you are leaving work (post 6pm), you should be fine.

I do this everyday, and its honestly 20 minutes for me (door to door).

Thanks for the tip, this is a lot of help. I'm looking at GoogleMaps, and for me I'll end up on Peachtree St NW instead of Peachtree Center Ave to begin with b/c of where I exit my parking garage. Could I turn onto Simpson St and then immediately onto W Peachtree St and avoid Ralph McGill altogether (except for crossing over it)?

One more question since you seem to be experienced in this route; Have you ever taken Peachtree Center Ave and then:
right onto Harris
left onto Piedmont
right onto Baker St/Weldon Pl/Highland Ave (they're all listed on the map)
right onto the "loop around" on ramp

This is the route I took on Monday and there was no traffic but it was also 6:45. Just wondering if this route has a lot of traffic if I get there earlier. Thanks for the help guys.

[bikefrontier]

Originally Posted by dan9124

Thanks for the tip, this is a lot of help. I'm looking at GoogleMaps, and for me I'll end up on Peachtree St NW instead of Peachtree Center Ave to begin with b/c of where I exit my parking garage. Could I turn onto Simpson St and then immediately onto W Peachtree St and avoid Ralph McGill altogether (except for crossing over it)?

That absolutely works as well. I actually park in a church parking lot on Porter (parallel to simpson, one block north), so I just take Porter to W Peachtree (like you could take Simpson). Now that I think about it, I should have suggested that to you from the start

Originally Posted by dan9124

One more question since you seem to be experienced in this route; Have you ever taken Peachtree Center Ave and then:
right onto Harris
left onto Piedmont
right onto Baker St/Weldon Pl/Highland Ave (they're all listed on the map)
right onto the "loop around" on ramp

This is the route I took on Monday and there was no traffic but it was also 6:45. Just wondering if this route has a lot of traffic if I get there earlier. Thanks for the help guys.

I actually used to take that route when I would park in the lot on the corner of Courtland and Harris. If you leave at 645, its a breeze, but if you leave earlier, there is a line at the onramp. That onramp employs lights, with the whole 'only one car per green' garbage, with two streets feeding the same ramp. I find that to be irritating. At 645, you would be fine, but you would also be fine with the other route.

For you, since you are so far south in comparison to me, the Weldon Pl route might be just as good. The downside is that it puts you in the 75/85 traffic 1/2 mile sooner. Ive found that the city streets, with the exception of Ivan Allen, are more pleasant to navigate than 75/85 at the earlier hours.

[dan9124]

left work at 6 yesterday and the Linden Ave route worked great. Was on the connector within 5 minutes of leaving the parking garage. Thanks.