Framingham-Boston commute: drive, T, or commuter train? (Worcester, Natick: apartment complexes, deductible)

[jscans]

What's the best way to get into Boston from Framingham for a normal work day? Drive? Drive to the Riverside T stop and take the T in? Or pick up the commuter train in Framingham/West Natick?

What's quickest? What's most reliable? What is the least hassle?

My wife and I are considering moving to Framingham. She's would work in Worcester and drive there and I'm looking at jobs in Boston. What's the best way for me to get in to work?

We're considering some of the apartment complexes off the Pike at exit 12/Rt9/Worcester Rd, so I'd have easy access to the Pike for driving or getting to the Riverside T stop.

For the past 2 years I've been taking the MARC train from Penn Station in Baltimore to Union Station in DC and picking up the Metro there. My commute has range from 1:05 to 1:30 depending on where I was working in DC.

I'd love to have a shorter commute, but I don't know if that's possible from Framingham.

Thanks for your help in advance.

[holden125]

It's the lesser of three evils. They are all potentially a hassle and I'm not sure which one is most reliable. It depends in part on where and when you need to go and what you're willing to spend on the commute. Driving in you would face some rough traffic at some hours, and you'd have to pay for gas, tolls (though FastLane for commuting was tax-deductible for state income taxes) and parking. Parking in downtown Boston is at least $300/month.

The commuter rail from Framingham makes it to South Station in 45 mins to just under an hour, depending on the train. Some run express, others don't. One issue is that the parking at the station is often gone early, and there is some traffic nn the streets of the town getting to the station. For ease of parking it may be better to go from Ashland, which is as close to Exit 12 and not as congested.

Riverside has the benefit of more parking, but there's still the traffic to get there and the tolls, plus the parking itself is more expensive. It's at least 15-20 mins without traffic to Riverside, a good 45 mins to Park St, and you may need to take another train or walk a few minutes from there. You'd save about 10 mins if you got a job in the Back Bay. The same is true for the commuter rail since Framingham trains generally stop there as well as South Station.

No matter how you cut it, I'd say you're looking at least an hour unless you drive at a time when the traffic is not totally crushing and pay the cost of doing so.

Maybe looking in Natick would shave some time off that while not adding too much time to a reverse commute to Worcester?

[jscans]

Thanks. How early is early when people say that the parking at the Framingham commuter train stop fills up?

[holden125]

Originally Posted by jscans

Thanks. How early is early when people say that the parking at the Framingham commuter train stop fills up?

I've heard 7 or 7:30, and that Ashland is nowhere near as bad with parking.

[scarletfire]

This is true on both counts, Holden. There's much more parking at Ashland.

[scarletfire]

If I recall correctly, there are fewer train stops in Ashland than Framingham though. You can check schedule at MBTA.com > Official Website for Greater Boston's Public Transportation System.

[kbouch12]

I currently commute from Framingham - I have yet to run into a parking problem. I am typically on the 7:40 express train to Boston which gets me to Back Bay for around 8:15 I then take the Orange Line to State Street and get to work about 8:30. The $2 dollar lots do fill up early but there is plenty of $4/day lots and there is a garage that you can get a resident pass for and that is $65 for the month. It is a bit cheaper then the lot and you dont have to worry about having ones. Hope that helped!

[scarletfire]

Wow, did they add parking in Framingham recently? We lived there years ago and it was hard to find a space unless you were really early.

Another thought is there are apartments right across the street from the West Natick train station on Rt 135. I believe the primary complex there is Natick Village or Natick Green but there are some slightly newer and much nicer units adjacent to that. I don't know if they're owned by the same property management company or not.

[elylam52]

Could someone tell me where the parking garage is for $65 a month around the Framingham train station. I just moved to an apt on Route 9 and would love to scoop up that deal for the train parking. Thanks!

[smarty]

Here's the link
Parking in Framingham