Possible commute from Arcadia to Chandler. (Phoenix, Scottsdale: hotel, homes, salary)

[raindance maggie]

Hello.
I'm interviewing for a position at a company in Chandler that looks promising. It's on Price near where the 101 and 202 interchange. I live in the Arcadia area near 40th Street and Campbell so this will be a lengthy commute if I'm accepted.
If I'm offered the position I can request a flex shift or evening shift but it's not a guarantee I'll get it. I don't like the 9 to 5 routine very much, and most of all I don't like driving in congested rush hour traffic.
On the drive to work it looks like I could take 44th Street south, get on the 202 and go east, take that to the 101 and go straight down. If I work evenings I'm thinking I might run into some heavy traffic going to work.
Does anyone else commute this way, and what's the thickness of traffic like? I'm curious about all times of day.
If anyone has ideas for a better route I'd be open to suggestions.

[sloguy1496]

I'm not all that familiar with the SE valley, but if you commute at traditional times, you will generally be heading in the opposite direction as the typical rush hour traffic for a significant portion of your commute. I can't imagine that you would have too much of a problem with rush hour congestion, particularly if you avoid the 10, given the direction you'd be heading.

[Valley Native]

Arcadia to south Chandler is a very long commute. Even if she decides to work an evening schedule, that usually means driving TO work during the afternoon/evening rush hour. It would be a reverse commute at least half way, but I'm not so sure about the southbound 101 ... seems to me there would be heavy traffic on that stretch through Tempe and into Chandler.

I'm wondering what the benefits are at this employer that the OP would need to drive so far to work. Seems to me that they would have to offer a hefty salary and lots of perks (more than most companies). Living in Arcadia, I would think there would be plenty of companies hiring for positions which offer decent pay and benefits which are in closer proximity.

[AZgarden]

My daughter lives around 40th and Osborn, and I am around Price and the 202/101 interchange. Close to Chandler Mall.

I have driven that alot. I go Queen creek rd to I 10 north to the Airport cutoff (383 or something) to McDowell. Go left on Mcd and then north on 44th st. to Osborn (Campbell).

It takes me 40 minutes usually. I did it in rush hour 2 days ago and was there in 35 minutes, but going south on the I 10 at evening rush hour is a pain.

Price Rd is getting more and more companies which means more traffic. Why don't you come to SE Chandler and find a place to live. Nice homes around here.

[SoCalCpl2]

Wish we had the "long" commutes that you have... This looks to be an average of 23 - 25 miles depending on the route.. Heck that is just down the road for us... A 25 mile commute here can take up to 2 hours.... the average is 45 minutes to an hour.... On a good day..

We cannot wait to move there and NOT have the traffic like we do here.. And yes, we have been there a few times and driven in what you call rush hour, and we were happy.....

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by SoCalCpl2

Wish we had the "long" commutes that you have... This looks to be an average of 23 - 25 miles depending on the route.. Heck that is just down the road for us... A 25 mile commute here can take up to 2 hours.... the average is 45 minutes to an hour.... On a good day..

We cannot wait to move there and NOT have the traffic like we do here.. And yes, we have been there a few times and driven in what you call rush hour, and we were happy.....

Preach

People here have no clue what traffic is like in other large metropolitan cities. Please preach some sense into these people. They complain if they have to drive over 30 minutes one way. I think that is probably due to people who move here from small cities in the midwest and south where they are used to 10 minute commutes

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by SoCalCpl2

Wish we had the "long" commutes that you have... This looks to be an average of 23 - 25 miles depending on the route.. Heck that is just down the road for us... A 25 mile commute here can take up to 2 hours.... the average is 45 minutes to an hour.... On a good day..

We cannot wait to move there and NOT have the traffic like we do here.. And yes, we have been there a few times and driven in what you call rush hour, and we were happy.....

IMHO, it's much worse that you mentioned for a lot of people. I was in LA last winter and I was absolutely amazed on how slow traffic was. Even worse, rush hour starts extremely early and goes till after 10AM. It starts backing up again around 2:30 in the afternoon. On a friday night, I left a supplier's place at 8:45 and was warned traffic wasn't done yet. I didn't believe him and he was right. It was stop-and-go at 8:45pm heading back to Phoenix and had to get a hotel at 9:30 pm because I gave up. So putting it another way, there is flowing traffic from 10am till 2:30 or a mere 4.5 hours per day or sunlight (M-F)! That's it. MPLS rush hours runs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3pm-6:30pm. PHX slightly less than MPLS. Boston is child's play (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m). LA is ranked #1 worse traffic. PHX is 40th And the city with the worst traffic in the U.S. is...

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transp...in_Los_Angeles "Los Angeles rush hour occurs on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., and in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m (although rush-hour traffic can occasionally spill out to 11am and start again from 2:30pm until as late as 9pm, especially on Fridays)."

[SoCalCpl2]

MN-Born-n-Raised.... I agree.. Yeah Rush hour around here really sucks.. ESPECIALLY on Friday nights.... Everyone trying to get out of town.... The 15 to Vegas can take you anywhere between 5 and 10 hours to get there..... And that is only roughly 250 miles....

AND traffic will stop for no reason on the freeways... One minute you are going 70 then you are stopped then you are going 70 again....

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

IMHO, it's much worse that you mentioned for a lot of people. I was in LA last winter and I was absolutely amazed on how slow traffic was. Even worse, rush hour starts extremely early and goes till after 10AM. It starts backing up again around 2:30 in the afternoon. On a friday night, I left a supplier's place at 8:45 and was warned traffic wasn't done yet. I didn't believe him and he was right. It was stop-and-go at 8:45pm heading back to Phoenix and had to get a hotel at 9:30 pm because I gave up. So putting it another way, there is flowing traffic from 10am till 2:30 or a mere 4.5 hours per day or sunlight (M-F)! That's it. MPLS rush hours runs from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3pm-6:30pm. PHX slightly less than MPLS. Boston is child's play (7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m). LA is ranked #1 worse traffic. PHX is 40th And the city with the worst traffic in the U.S. is...

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transp...in_Los_Angeles "Los Angeles rush hour occurs on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., and in the afternoon between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m (although rush-hour traffic can occasionally spill out to 11am and start again from 2:30pm until as late as 9pm, especially on Fridays)."

I'm surprised to learn that rush hour now starts at 5 am. I remember when rush hour was starting at 6 am and I thought that was bad. It's absolute inexcusable that it now starts at 5 am.

It amazes me that some people here still reject light rail and the south mountain freeway knowing we could be another L.A. A big reason their traffic is terrible is they have no public transportation system. I'm glad our leaders and the majority of our citizens don't want to follow L.A.'s mistakes

[raindance maggie]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Arcadia to south Chandler is a very long commute. Even if she decides to work an evening schedule, that usually means driving TO work during the afternoon/evening rush hour. It would be a reverse commute at least half way, but I'm not so sure about the southbound 101 ... seems to me there would be heavy traffic on that stretch through Tempe and into Chandler.

I'm wondering what the benefits are at this employer that the OP would need to drive so far to work. Seems to me that they would have to offer a hefty salary and lots of perks (more than most companies). Living in Arcadia, I would think there would be plenty of companies hiring for positions which offer decent pay and benefits which are in closer proximity.

Believe me, I applied at different companies that were closer-Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix, Biltmore, and Arcadia areas. Most of the hours weren't flexible and the benefit packages were so-so.
Right now I work in an office in the Biltmore area, it's a 9 to 5 kind of schedule and there's not much room for advancement.
I don't like the 9 to 5 shifts mostly because of the traffic, and those kind of schedules are really outdated anyway.
This place I applied at looks very promising with very flexible work schedules, better pay, and good benefits. The only problem is the distance from home but I think I'd rather drive a little more, get a better benefits package, and avoid most of the heavy traffic than work a drudging 9 to 5 schedule and not be happy.