Daily commute to UTMB Galveston? (Houston, Pasadena: how much, home, neighborhoods)

[rjj42]

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping that folks on this forum can chime in on a decision that my wife and I have to make soon.
I currently live in the Galleria area of Houston, near the intersection of San Felipe and Augusta Drive. My workplace is in the Greenspoint area (intersection of I-45 and Beltway 8), and since I am against traffic this gives me a commute time of approx. 35 min door to door.

My wife recently got a job offer to join University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston. The position is something she enjoys doing. However, the commute to and from UTMB on a daily basis is something, I worry, is not doable. Is there a shuttle that goes from Downtown to Galveston everyday, similar to the Woodlands Express? Or alternately, is there another part of town that we could move to which would make her and my commute manageable? I don't want her to say 'no' to a job offer without seeing what options are in front of us to make this work. The job does not pay anywhere nearly as much as mine and I would still be the primary breadwinner, if that's a factor to consider as well.

Would love to hear opinions on this. Thanks advance as always!

-RJ

[locotl]

So if you drive from Galveston to Greenspoint area it's probably around 2 to 2.5 hrs. You're going to be at opposite ends of the city. Downtown will be your midpoint where I will start looking. I did see a Galveston county transit bus around clear lake, but don't know how much in to the city it goes.

[texas7]

You might consider splitting the commute and perhaps moving to friendswood, league city or clear lake areas.

[tstone]

At one point my wife and I were splitting a commute to Galveston and the Galleria and we decided to split it by living along Clear Lake City Blvd, <5 mins from I-45. On average it was about 45 mins each way for both of us.

I'm looking on Waze right now and it looks like that north part of Clear Lake to Greenspoint is about 1 hour each way at peak.

The midpoint between your areas is closer to Hobby Airport or western Pasadena... If you don't care how sketchy the surrounding areas are I think there are a few decent neighborhoods tucked away there.

[rjj42]

Thanks everyone. I've been to the area around Hobby Airport and Pasadena a few times, I have to admit my first impression was not very good, especially when comparing that area to the one we live in now. I don't think I'd be willing to move to either Pasadena, or League city or Clear Lake.
Sigh....

[westres1]

West Houston would give her an hour commute and you possibly the same as you have now. However, you would have tolls on both commutes.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by westres1

West Houston would give her an hour commute and you possibly the same as you have now. However, you would have tolls on both commutes.

It takes me 40 mins to get from the Energy Corridor to I-45/Clear Lake Blvd without heavy traffic. It takes another 25 mins to get to the island from there, and UTMB is another 15 minutes eastward once you get off the causeway. Then add traffic to that, at least on 45N around Airport to 610 in the evenings as that is typically more congested than going south.

[westres1]

Originally Posted by tstone

It takes me 40 mins to get from the Energy Corridor to I-45/Clear Lake Blvd without heavy traffic. It takes another 25 mins to get to the island from there, and UTMB is another 15 minutes eastward once you get off the causeway. Then add traffic to that, at least on 45N around Airport to 610 in the evenings as that is typically more congested than going south.

I am near Westchase district and it takes me an hour to get to the Strand taking the beltway to 45 on most days. It is not perfect but a suggestion.

Neighborhoods near Hobby that are up and coming are Idylwood and Glenbrook Valley.

[Whyrallnamestaken]

An hour from Westchase? How fast do you drive?

[shanv3]

Originally Posted by rjj42

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping that folks on this forum can chime in on a decision that my wife and I have to make soon.
I currently live in the Galleria area of Houston, near the intersection of San Felipe and Augusta Drive. My workplace is in the Greenspoint area (intersection of I-45 and Beltway 8), and since I am against traffic this gives me a commute time of approx. 35 min door to door.

My wife recently got a job offer to join University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Galveston. The position is something she enjoys doing. However, the commute to and from UTMB on a daily basis is something, I worry, is not doable. Is there a shuttle that goes from Downtown to Galveston everyday, similar to the Woodlands Express? Or alternately, is there another part of town that we could move to which would make her and my commute manageable? I don't want her to say 'no' to a job offer without seeing what options are in front of us to make this work. The job does not pay anywhere nearly as much as mine and I would still be the primary breadwinner, if that's a factor to consider as well.

Would love to hear opinions on this. Thanks advance as always!

-RJ

You could still do the commute to Galleria to Galveston in 1 hour in morning and 1.5-2 hrs(out of which 1 hour probably from the NRG to your home ) in the evening.

Is the UTMB located in Galveston itself or on 1-45 near league city?? In that case its very doable from your current location.

I did West Memorial to Texas city every day , not even using toll and you get used to it. I also lived near Bering and hated to move out of that area.