The Traffic Issue (Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort: how much, subdivisions, living)

[seljuk88]

Hey folks, long-time KY lurker, first-time poster.

My girlfriend and I are seriously looking at either Lexington or Louisville, and we're having some trouble deciding.

For me, transportation issues are important in where I live. I've read/heard a lot about the terrible infrastructure and overall driving in Lexington, but how does this compare to Louisville? I mean, Louisville is a much larger city, I would assume their traffic would be worse, right?

Also, I have some experience driving in big cities, having driven with the worst of the St. Louis drivers for a while. Is there any comparison?

[LEXpert]

This is just my opinion, but when I am in Louisville, I feel like I am driving farther to get somewhere, but traffic moves a little better. Here in Lexington, you don't drive as far, but it moves slower.

Lexington doesn't sprawl like Louisville does. Also, keep in mind that most people in Lexington come from smaller towns, so it seems worse to them since they are comparing it to "back home." When I moved here in 1986 from Frankfort, I felt like I had moved to New York City.

Personally, I only think traffic is really bad during rush hours and on Friday night around Hamburg. I'm a realtor, so I am driving ALL over town all the time.

Louisville is more of a small city, and Lexington is more of a huge town. I'd pick whichever town speaks to you the most since both are big enough to have traffic.

[InLondon]

Lexington traffic isn't too bad. During rush hour in the mornings and evenings though it can get annoying. If you know short cuts it helps.

[LEXpert]

That's a pretty realistic assessment......and welcome to the forum Seljuk88.

[UKUKUK]

Shortcuts are a life saver. I used to commute from Nicholasville to UK's campus. Highway 1980 and 68 (Harrodsburgh rd.) became great friends to me as taking either (accessed by Ash Grove and Catnip Hill respectively) trimmed 5-10 minutes off my daily drive.

Find a map of Lexington and study it well to find alternative routes and traffic won't be too bad.

[seljuk88]

Thanks everyone for the great responses! They have proved to be very informative.

I'm afraid this begs another question about the roads in Lexington, though. What's the biggest issue with the infrastructure? Is it light synchronization, need of more lanes, ect?

[lexingtongal]

imo-most of the traffic issues are at rush hour when folks are commuting in and out from outlying subdivisions. I avoid the issue entirely by living within New Circle Rd. I forget that there are traffic issues because I'm generally going against the masses when I go to work. I've lived all over Lexington and 40502 is the area that I would never consider leaving. Traffic (or lack there of) is one of the biggest reasons.

[HatesWinter2118]

I have lived in both Louisville and Lexington and I would argue that driving in Lexington is worse than driving in Louisivlle. L'Ville has more interstate options and more major roads. Lexington only has one interstate circling the city and a few major roads (Nicholasville, Harrordsburg) that EVERYONE uses to get everywhere. But, it doesn't hurt to know shortcuts in both.

[Wing Feathers]

Light sync and timing are the issues. Almost every light I deal with is a few minutes long. I could almost get out, take a walk... come back to the car before it turns green. SLOW. I began to think I was just becoming spoiled, but I went back to So Cal this month & was amazed at how much shorter their lights are! Traffic just flows better with short lights. Most of the congestion in Lexington is cause by the 3 minute stop lights.

[mongoosedn]

Originally Posted by HatesWinter2118

I have lived in both Louisville and Lexington and I would argue that driving in Lexington is worse than driving in Louisivlle. L'Ville has more interstate options and more major roads. Lexington only has one interstate circling the city and a few major roads (Nicholasville, Harrordsburg) that EVERYONE uses to get everywhere. But, it doesn't hurt to know shortcuts in both.

I agree with you. Lexington has no interstate running through it, unlike Louisville, which has several. New Circle Rd is the only freeway that goes through Lexington, meaning you have to use a lot of arterial/local roads, which naturally are filled with light and stops.

But the one leg up that Lexington has is that Louisville has much worse sprawl, so the actual distance you have to drive to get somewhere is a lot less in Lexington.