Need input for these commute scenarios for North Dallas (Irving: apartments, home)

[katolb90]

Hi Everybody. I've been narrowing my apartment choices down. Moving to Dallas in the next couple of months and I would like your input (in minutes) as to how long these commutes will take both to and from work taking into account construction. Leaving home 7-8am in the morning. Leaving work 4-5:30pm.

Alpha Rd/Midway in Farmers Branch to:

1. 7601 Churchill Way
2. 1701 Royal Ln (Irving)
3. 6419 Tranquilo (Irving)
4. 3702 Frankford (up Midway)
5. 4607 Timberglen Rd (up Toll Road/Dallas Parkway)
6. 7777 Glen America Drive

I picked these as the worse case scenario commute. I may decide to live closer. Can someone tell me where is the current construction zone on 635 and what is the next part to be worked on and when will it all be finished? THANKS

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by katolb90

Hi Everybody. I've been narrowing my apartment choices down. Moving to Dallas in the next couple of months and I would like your input (in minutes) as to how long these commutes will take both to and from work taking into account construction. Leaving home 7-8am in the morning. Leaving work 4-5:30pm.

Alpha Rd/Midway in Farmers Branch to:

1. 7601 Churchill Way
2. 1701 Royal Ln (Irving)
3. 6419 Tranquilo (Irving)
4. 3702 Frankford (up Midway)
5. 4607 Timberglen Rd (up Toll Road/Dallas Parkway)
6. 7777 Glen America Drive

I picked these as the worse case scenario commute. I may decide to live closer. Can someone tell me where is the current construction zone on 635 and what is the next part to be worked on and when will it all be finished? THANKS

Construction and traffic on 635 are bad westbound from Preston past the Dallas North Tollroad. I don't know how far west it goes, but the construction looks like it's moving west. I remember six months ago the intersection with 635 and 35 was horrible, especially if you're trying to get back on 635 going east from SB 35 from the first couple of exits.

If you're going to list specific addresses it might help to include the nearest major intersection with the address. I'm from Dallas originally and I have no idea where half of those are. I'd have to Google map them.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by katolb90

Hi Everybody. I've been narrowing my apartment choices down. Moving to Dallas in the next couple of months and I would like your input (in minutes) as to how long these commutes will take both to and from work taking into account construction. Leaving home 7-8am in the morning. Leaving work 4-5:30pm.

Alpha Rd/Midway in Farmers Branch to:

1. 7601 Churchill Way
2. 1701 Royal Ln (Irving)
3. 6419 Tranquilo (Irving)
4. 3702 Frankford (up Midway)
5. 4607 Timberglen Rd (up Toll Road/Dallas Parkway)
6. 7777 Glen America Drive

I picked these as the worse case scenario commute. I may decide to live closer. Can someone tell me where is the current construction zone on 635 and what is the next part to be worked on and when will it all be finished? THANKS

1. What's your apt. budget? If budget allows why not live very close?
2. I'd bias the search north of I-635 east of I-35 and west of US 75. The Irving locations are too far.

[Transplanted99]

Two things:

1) Google maps - at "rushhour" times of day, pick one address and a destination and check the traffic based times (in the top left destination box - not the default times on the map). Over a week should give you a rather precise picture of the commutes. Hint: when changing destinations or starting points add a third address and "x" out the address you want to remove...much faster than starting gain from scratch.

2) Travel Time Maps - NCTCOG.org gives general commute times at rush hour centered at various locations in the area via a graphic overlay on a map. There are other documents at nctcog that may also help.

[move4ward]

This is your best source for lane closures and construction along LBJ. You can take a look at the E-updates for the latest action.

LBJ Lane Closures Map: LBJ Express - Existing and Upcoming Lane Closures

LBJ E-Updates: http://www.lbjexpress.com/eUpdates.asp

They completed most of the section from Preston to 75.

The focus for the next 18 months is Luna to Preston. Your best route would be to avoid 635 completely and take the surface roads (Royal/Forest/Valley View to Midway).

[katolb90]

Okay, I'm reading all the responses I didn't want to hear. Avoid Irving, avoid 635 west, construction is moving west. ALL BAD stuff. I really like a few of the North Irving apartments.

The 'in traffic' estimates on Google not sure how accurate they are and they seemed to favor going west when I checked at rush hour. That makes no sense. I'll check again next week.

I'll redo this with the intersections. Thanks

[move4ward]

The Irving sections are fine, as long as you avoid 635. 635 going in any direction is bad during rush hour.
Forest, Valley View and Royal will be much easier than navigating the construction on 635. Farmers Branch isn't that far from Royal Lane sections of Irving. It's about a 20-30 minute commute.

[katolb90]

Restating this post to include intersections. I'm not sure how accurate the google 'in traffic' estimates are. I think real life experience is important. So once again any input (in minutes) for the morning 7-8am to Alpha/Midway and evening 4-5:30 commute from Alpha/Midway. Thanks again

Alpha/Midway (work location) to:

Coit Rd and 635

Luna and Royal (via 635 or alternate route)

Frankford and Midway (via Midway)

George Bush Turnpike and Dallas Pkway

75 and Walnut Hill

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by katolb90

Restating this post to include intersections. I'm not sure how accurate the google 'in traffic' estimates are. I think real life experience is important. So once again any input (in minutes) for the morning 7-8am to Alpha/Midway and evening 4-5:30 commute from Alpha/Midway. Thanks again

Alpha/Midway (work location) to:


Coit Rd and 635

That would suck. You'd be going through some of the worst congestion the area has to offer...and through a construction zone to boot. However, it's a better choice than Walnut Hill/75 from a commuting standpoint.

Luna and Royal (via 635 or alternate route)


Frankford and Midway (via Midway)

No idea on those two. I can navigate those parts of town but haven't seen them "in action" at rush hour.

George Bush Turnpike and Dallas Pkway

That might not be too bad if you use surface roads; I'd imagine DNT northbound in the afternoon is no fun. Nearby shopping is good too.

75 and Walnut Hill

I wouldn't. You'd be going against traffic on Central but you'd run into heavy congestion on the high 5 in the mornings and afternoons just because of the bottlenecks on the interchanges. However...it's a nice area to live, certainly more exciting than the areas north and northwest of it. You'd be better positioned for doing stuff after work and on weekends, and the selection of shops/restaurants/bars/etc. is really good. So...there's that to consider as well.

You shouldn't base your decision solely on commute; you need to factor in QOL as well. A short commute on weekdays may not mean much if you're driving 20 miles on weekends to meet your friends at a restaurant. You'll find that in time, you might drift apart because it's harder to get together. Or, if you're new to the area, you may find it harder to make friends if you're living around older people or lots of immigrants. Immigrants here do tend to keep to their own, but as neighbors they are perfectly fine. I had many Indian neighbors back in the 1990s in Irving and they were great neighbors; quiet, polite, unassuming...though it was sometimes a little annoying when they took over the complex's tennis courts to play cricket. Wooden cricket bats can be pretty noisy. But I digress.

CAVEAT: This is coming from someone who loathes...loathes...long commutes. To me, a potential commute from 75 and Belt Line to a job one exit north of Woodall Rogers....basically a straight shot down 75 almost to downtown Dallas...was a real heartburn-inducer. I lasted six months at a job that was just south of Love Field. I left the job because I absolutely hated everything about it, but I was NOT sorry to kiss that commute goodbye. It sucked. I really can't think of many things less pleasant than sitting in heavy traffic.

My point is, it depends on what your tolerance level is for sitting in heavy traffic. I have a very low tolerance for it. Therefore, what is a crappy commute for me might not be a big deal to someone else.

Good luck!

[move4ward]

Originally Posted by katolb90

Alpha/Midway (work location) to:

Coit Rd and 635

That's a very loud location with lots of street noise, starting at 6 am until late in the evenings. You should consider other aspects, besides commute time.

Originally Posted by katolb90

George Bush Turnpike and Dallas Pkway

75 and Walnut Hill

Same problem as the Coit and 635 location. You would be able to hear the road noise, even with your windows closed. If the noise doesn't bother you, then go for it. Pay attention to the road noise, when you are inside the apartment during the tours.