Commuting from Boston to Maine? (Portland: house, look for a job, to buy)

[PJ20]

Hi just wondering if anyone commutes from Boston to Southern Maine? I started a similar thread in the Boston forum but thought I would get a different perspective here. My spouse and I would be living in Boston but I have a job opportunity southwest of Portland. I am interested in doing the commute to Southern Maine from Boston (northern suburbs). I grew up with cold and snow so that won't be a shock but I'm concerned about traffic time. My spouse has an opportunity in Boston so naturally we have to live where she will work

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Check the train schedule for the Downeaster. If you drive, you would be going opposite the heavy commuter traffic. Many Mainers have a "winter rat" which is a worn out car suitable for driving on salted pads. They are considered to be disposable.

[mainegrl2011]

If you are planning on making the round trip drive daily, I would vote "no," unless the drive is one hour or less each way under normal conditions. ... just my opinion, of course. A person's gotta do what they think they gotta do. http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/schedules

[lrfox]

The Downeaster is NOT a commuter train by a long shot. Just look at the schedule. The earliest train on M-F leaves Boston at 9:05 am. The next one leaves at 5:00 pm.

Not only does it run infrequently, it's rarely on time (it's 3rd priority to MBTA rail and freight traffic so it's constantly waiting at pull outs), and the schedule isn't close to being aligned with the typical workday schedule. Driving will be much faster and more convenient. And assuming your workplace doesn't happen to be right at a Downeaster stop, driving will be more direct. The Downeaster is geared more for Mainers going to Boston for a day than it is for commuters or even people from MA going to Maine for a day. Fares aren't reasonable for daily commutes either.

If you don't want to drive, there are buses that make the trip faster and more frequently. But driving is far and away the best (really the only) option.

[mainebrokerman]

its mostly highway driving

there are times to avoid if you have to drive thru boston...it does get congested

from southern maine .....it should be less than one hr to boston , if you follow a mass. driver....you can make it in half the time

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

its mostly highway driving

there are times to avoid if you have to drive thru boston...it does get congested

from southern maine .....it should be less than one hr to boston , if you follow a mass. Driver....you can make it in half the time

lol

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by lrfox

The Downeaster is NOT a commuter train by a long shot. Just look at the schedule. The earliest train on M-F leaves Boston at 9:05 am. The next one leaves at 5:00 pm.

Not only does it run infrequently, it's rarely on time (it's 3rd priority to MBTA rail and freight traffic so it's constantly waiting at pull outs), and the schedule isn't close to being aligned with the typical workday schedule. Driving will be much faster and more convenient. And assuming your workplace doesn't happen to be right at a Downeaster stop, driving will be more direct. The Downeaster is geared more for Mainers going to Boston for a day than it is for commuters or even people from MA going to Maine for a day. Fares aren't reasonable for daily commutes either.

If you don't want to drive, there are buses that make the trip faster and more frequently. But driving is far and away the best (really the only) option.

Maybe he has a flexible or very flexible schedule lol . How about look for a job closer to his home in the Boston area as an option? or ask his employer if he can work at home, live in Maine during the week and go home on weekends?... just a few option suggestions.

[Zymer]

Between '82& '84 I commuted from York to Woburn for a while, it really wasn't that great, it's a long haul for going to work. But, assuming you are working 'normal' hours, you will be going opposite the bulk of the traffic each way- most of the commuters will be running south in the AM and north in the PM.

If you can stay away from Malfunction Junction (the Rt. 93/95 interchange in Woburn) you'll be a lot better off.

Which suburb are you planning to start from? I know the area fairly well, since I lived and worked there for a good many years, and a number of my jobs included lots of driving in a lot of the towns. (I have a house in one of them, if you are looking to buy.)