Have a choice between moving to Deer Valley or Chandler

[asufan]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I have typically heard the term Ahwatukee used to refer to the area that the City calls Ahwatukee Foothills Village, which is shown here. I wasn't aware of the distinctions that you suggest, but I'll take your word for them.

Yeah me too. And basically everyone that lives in that area calls it Ahwatukee, whether it's Mountain Park Ranch, Ahwatukee Foothills, Club West, etc. I used to live there. Good location but many of the homes need extensive updating.

[pbenjamin]

I am really surprised to hear people here say that the commute from Chandler to downtown is not bad. I-10 has always resembled a parking lot to me when going in the opposite direction. Is this a time of day thing?

[asufan]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I am really surprised to hear people here say that the commute from Chandler to downtown is not bad. I-10 has always resembled a parking lot to me when going in the opposite direction. Is this a time of day thing?

relatively bad. I would say it compares favorably to commutes from other suburbs, such as Surprise, Goodyear, Gilbert, San Tan Valley, North Scottsdale, North Glendale, etc. I used to travel downtown from South Tempe (I got on the freeway at Warner Road, just North of the Chandler border) and it seemed to take about 30-35 minutes. This was a looong time ago though. I would stay in the right lane, which moves at about 60mph until the US 60 and then merge over. That was the rough part, between the 60 and the Broadway curve. After that it seems to move much better. Not great, but better compared to many of the suburbs.

[azriverfan.]

Chandler is large. It makes no sense to talk about it like a singular entity. It depends entirely upon where you live in Chandler. If you live in North Chandler, it's a fairly "normal" commute by Valley standards because it borders Tempe. For example, it takes me 25 minutes to drive to Good Samaritan and St. Joes hospital with morning traffic. However, if you live in Ocotillo, you can add 15-20 minutes to that drive and if you live in East Chandler near the Gilbert border, it can approach an hour with morning traffic. It also depends where you are going to in downtown as well.

Furthermore, the I-10 traffic heading north is only bad up to the 60. After you pass Broadway, it clears up considerably and is fairly free flowing unless there is a traffic accident. It's the worst on Monday and by Thursday and Friday morning, it's pretty fast. Most people don't know that. They see the mad traffic around Ray and I-10 and assume it's like that the entire way to downtown and assume the commute is longer than it is. That is not the case.

[kremit]

Originally Posted by pbenjamin

I am really surprised to hear people here say that the commute from Chandler to downtown is not bad. I-10 has always resembled a parking lot to me when going in the opposite direction. Is this a time of day thing?

I can agree to that. Maybe degrees of severity. Morning rush hour is completely different the evening. There are so many people not paying attention, I don't know how many accidents I see on a daily basis. Based on some of my experiences this is what its like.

5 to 6 = no traffic
6 to 7 = light
7 to 8 = moderate
8 to 9 = heavy?

If you are commuting from Tucson > Phoenix it was more like

5 to 7 = light
6 to 8 = heavy
7 to 9 = forget it, don't even come into work

I've never drove during the 8 to 9 stretch in Phoenix so I couldn't comment on that. I like how Phoenix has a rush hour during the middle of the day because of lunch time.

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Furthermore, the I-10 traffic heading north is only bad up to the 60. After you pass Broadway, it clears up considerably and is fairly free flowing unless there is a traffic accident. It's the worst on Monday and by Thursday and Friday morning, it's pretty fast. Most people don't know that. They see the mad traffic around Ray and I-10 and assume it's like that the entire way to downtown and assume the commute is longer than it is. That is not the case.

The worst is the 60 > I-10 fork. I am really surprised there isn't more accidents around there after Mill.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by observer53

Well, south of Ahwatukee proper includes areas like the Foothills, Mountain Park Ranch, Lakeview. For some people, Ahwatukee is not everything south of Elliot, but more confined to the area in or adjacent to the original community, centered around the Warner-Elliot Loop and extending down to Ray Road.

That's pretty much not true. Maybe there are some strange individuals who define it that way but it's pretty much understood that the Foothills is Ahwatukee and even the local Ahwatukee magazines include those areas and often the terms Foothills is interchanged with Ahwatukee but most often it's referred to as the Ahwatukee foothills. Most of the restaurants and stores in the area will often refer to their location as Ahwatukee. I've never heard of anyone not include that area as Ahwatukee.

Originally Posted by asufan

Yeah me too. And basically everyone that lives in that area calls it Ahwatukee, whether it's Mountain Park Ranch, Ahwatukee Foothills, Club West, etc. I used to live there. Good location but many of the homes need extensive updating.

Exactly

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

Id choose Chandler over Deer Valley - but it's an ugly commute from either place!!

I would agree.

For suburban living Chandler is my top pick above all others, better schools, decent neighborhoods that are affordable, and good shopping.

Traffic can be a problem, especially on the 60 and I-10 during morning and evening crush hour.