Commute from Newton to Milford? (Boston, Chelsea: rentals, how much, neighborhoods)

[empearls]

My husband has an interview with a company in Milton, MA. I was wondering what the driving commute is like from Newton to Milton for someone who works 8am-5pm (or more like 730am-6pm). Google Maps is telling me it's only 30 miles and about a 40 minute drive but I have no idea what the ACTUAL commute would be like.

[Charliekeet]

Hi - with the mileage you specified, I assume you do mean Milford, not Milton. Bit of a difference there.
That estimate is probably close, as he'd be going the opposite way from most morning traffic (I'm guessing you're looking at taking the turnpike-90 west to 495 south.)
Thing is, that depends on where in Newton - if you tell me which neighborhood you're in, I can estimate, because the more "street time" leading up to getting onto the Pike, and can really swing the total. (I live in Newton, btw.)

It would also be worth considering/trying the "cross-country" Rte 16 option. I know some of that stretch, but not all, but I'd certainly try it if it were me. I'd expect it to take a few a minutes more, but may be more pleasant and engaging a commute, and saves tolls. Also useful to know in case there's an accident or something messed up on one of the major highways.

[empearls]

Originally Posted by Charliekeet

Hi - with the mileage you specified, I assume you do mean Milford, not Milton. Bit of a difference there.

Whoops! Well, at least I got it right in the title!

I know nothing about Newton neighborhoods - just that there is a significant Jewish population in Newton and we're Jewish. What Newton neighborhoods would be better for commuting to Milford? And what do you mean there are tolls? We're from Southern California and the only tolls are on bridges in Northern California (and at $5 no less). How much are the tolls? Can you get a Fast Pass (here in CA you can get a Fast Pass to put on your car windshield and then you just pay a monthly bill and you don't have to stop and pay cash each time you drive over a bridge)?

[Charliekeet]

It's a terrific town.
-Good neighborhoods in Newton for that commute would be:
Waban
Lower Falls/Upper Falls
Auburndale
West Newton
Newton Highlands
-that's just because they're farther west & you can get onto the Pike at the Rte 128 (95) interchange, or the one right before it, thereby avoiding an additional time-consuming slowdown for a toll. (It would only be a couple of bucks a day, but cause slowing, even with use of FastLane, as it's called here.)

None of the other neighborhoods is really going to be bad, but depending on the neighborhood it may take a while until you're on one of the several major roads that funnel onto the couple of Pike access points.

[empearls]

Does the Pike refer to just one freeway or all freeways? Sorry for the probably obvious question...

[kmann-sherborn]

The Pike is the Massachusetts Turnpike. That's the toll road that Charlie was referring to. I agree with him that taking Rt 16 is probably easier (and certainly more scenic). I think if you're going from Newton to Milford during rush hour it'd be pretty easy since you're going against traffic. I know of a few 3bd/2ba rentals in Newton that are deleaded. They have offstreet parking but no garage.

[holden125]

Pike = Massachusetts Turnpike = I-90.

Route 16 would be very slow. For the most part it's a two-lane street passing through many towns with many traffic lights.

One thing that might work is 9 West to Mass Pike at Exit 12 to 495, but you're probably doing just as well on the Pike.

One note: Exit 16, at the big West Newton rotary, is not accessible going to and from the west. The only entrance ramp goes east to Boston, the only exit ramp is coming from east/Boston. It's a very short drive, however, to the Pike entrance at Exit 14 near Auburndale. It's easy to learn the side roads that take you there with less traffic than Comm Av. Getting on/off the Pike at Exit 14 also saves you the additional toll at the Weston tollbooths (called Exit 15 though there's no actual exit there). From Exit 14 at the far western edge of Newton to Exit 11A (Route 495 in Westboro), the toll is 70 cents each way. Mass has a FastLane program, just like the one in CA. You get a transponder.

http://www.massdot.net/user-cgi/tollcalc.cgi

In addition to the Mass Pike, there are tolls in Massachusetts only on the three tunnels under Boston Harbor (Sumner, Callahan, Ted Williams) and the Tobin Bridge on Route 1 connecting Charlestown to Chelsea.

There also are tolls on just about every major highway in New Hampshire.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by empearls

Does the Pike refer to just one freeway or all freeways? Sorry for the probably obvious question...

And since it's the one toll road, it's not in fact a "freeway"

[empearls]

I guess that's why they're called turnpikes and not FREEways! There will be quite a bit to learn cultural if we end up out there. I'm a Cali girl through and through.

Because so many tolls are collected on the regular roadways/turnpikes/tunnels, does this mean the roads are well maintained?

Californians love to ***** about the quality of the roads and if you've ever driven from CA to Nevada, the difference in road quality is AMAZING (for Nevada not Cali!).

Or are Mass roads beat up because of salt and snow removal?

[kmann-sherborn]

well maintained? no, I wouldn't really describe them that way!