commuting from Round Rock to down town Austin (Cedar Park, Pflugerville: 2015, house)

[nicole2484]

My husband just accepted a job in Austin, so we'll be moving to the area in about a month, from NY. We are interested in the Round Rock area but have read that commuting to downtown Austin can take quite a while. How long is the commute during rush hour? Thanks!

[sojourner77]

Originally Posted by nicole2484

How long is the commute during rush hour? Thanks!

Pretty bad to be honest, so why Round Rock?

(besides the usual answer of "good schools" - lots of areas have good schools)

[SmartGXL]

Originally Posted by nicole2484

My husband just accepted a job in Austin, so we'll be moving to the area in about a month, from NY. We are interested in the Round Rock area but have read that commuting to downtown Austin can take quite a while. How long is the commute during rush hour? Thanks!

I would budget 75-90 minutes each way, during rush hour.

[LiveUrban]

If you choose to live north, you might look into living near a MetroRail stop Riding MetroRail - Capital Metro - Austin Public Transit which drops off in the heart of downtown.

Round Rock itself now has horrible traffic on I-35 during rush hour. In addition to that, you're husband will have to deal with horrible traffic closer to downtown Austin. I used to live just north of downtown Austin and to get to the Riverside Dr. area during rush hour it would take me at least 30-35 min.

[riaelise]

I live in Round Rock (central - east) and commute to downtown Austin five days per week. I take Metrorail and my commute is 55 minutes from door to door. However, only fifteen minutes are spent driving. If I'm not driving, then it doesn't bother me. I don't Quite frankly, I love my neighborhood very much and love my job. I love where I live enough to deal with a commute, though most of the people in my neighborhood don't commute any farther than north Austin or are retired.

Personally, at this stage of the game, I want to find the neighborhood/area that resonates with me moreso than proximity.

[Pinkribbonaustin]

riaelise, where are hopping on the light rail? Howard Lane? Is it standing room only at times? Thanks

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Pinkribbonaustin

riaelise, where are hopping on the light rail? Howard Lane? Is it standing room only at times? Thanks

Howard, since it is right off MoPac. Yes, during the peak rush hours, it is standing room only since the train is only two cars long (!!!), but I tend to go during the tail end of the rush hours in both directions and I always sit down in the evenings and sit down 85% in the mornings. Once you are a regular, you know what you have to do to get a seat, and I am a NYer so when you are born pushing and bulling your way onto a subway, you get used to how to travel. Cap Metro is supposedly and allegedly increasing train frequency so that might alleviate things.

Even if I stopped taking the train due to crowds, I still have options. I can take an express bus to downtown from Tech Ridge, which is a shortish commute from my house (no we don't take 35). Living right next to a rail station IMO is not worth the markup, not when you can get a good deal living not too far away from it. In my case, I increased my commute by moving farther north, but like I said upthread, I've lived in this neighborhood for five months now and can't stop gushing about it. Basically, after living in several areas both here and NY, I found my happy place and have no intention of moving again other than into a home or into the grave. That's my reality - at this point in my life, I want my living situation to really be right. I may or may not have found similar happiness elsewhere, but circling back to the OP, if she likes what she sees in RR but the work happens to be in DT Austin, it's not impossible. Many people are used to commuting in other states.

[Pinkribbonaustin]

Nicole, as mentioned there is a Park & Ride station behind the TechRidge strip of shops and restaurants at IH35 and Parmer. I usually do that when I need to go downtown because I haven't been brave enough to try Howard light rail. I'm retired and hate to drive in Austin so the TR Park & Ride works well for me and the #801 new larger busses have WiFi.

Capital Metro adds routes running every 15 minutes | KXAN.com


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhR9DrwjD5Y

Tks Riaelise for reply.

[AverageJoe83]

Very, very long. It can be 30 - 40 minutes just to go from Round Rock to North Austin depending on where you are.

As for those asking "why round rock"?

* Very good schools - there are few, if any, in Austin ISD that compare
* More affordable
* Better property value

Just be prepared - the better living will come with a grueling commute.

[Tdog79]

Right now, I am in contact with a representative of Capital Metro and they are planning on updating their transportation options by putting both a MetroRapid BRT transit station and a future Regional Rail stop in Downtown Round Rock and by adding a Cedar Park Station to the MetroRail in collaboration with Project Connect. However, right now, we still have adequate to good transit options:

-Lakeline MetroRail Station: This is a drive down 620 or I-45 to Parmer and is a short drive, especially from where I live, and is located near Parmer. This station is conveniently located near both Cedar Park, North Austin, and Round Rock areas (Brushy Creek). If you live in East Round Rock, this might be a longer trip for you.

-Howard MetroRail Station: If you go on the toll road and go on I-45 and take the Mopac exit, this is a fast option. It is located near Wells Branch, which is near Pflugerville, and is only a short drive. The commute to Downtown is shorter from here. If you live on the North side, you might consider Lakeline to be a better option.

-Tech Ridge MetroRapid Station: This station is located south of Pflugerville and is an alternative option to the MetroRail. It's a drive down 35, but it might be worth it if you're wanting to visit places on Lamar and visit Austin's Chinatown or Central Market.