So Cal traffic versus Phoenix area.

[grad_student200]

In general, the traffic here is much easier to navigate compared to LA. I have been to LAX on a Saturday afternoon and even that was horrible compared to rush hour in Phoenix. That LAX has got to be the most congested and "root-of-a-headache" in my experience - even compared to Chicago O'Hare or Atlanta Hartsfield or MIA.

Phoenix traffic can be bad "relatively" if you have to commute from one side of Phoenix to a completely different side. For example, if you buy a home in Gilbert but get a job in North Scottsdale, that would be far more difficult of a commute than it has to be. But if you live in Gilbert but commute to Chandler or Tempe, it is fairly easy compared to LA in terms of time and difficulty.

I don't think Phoenix even compares to LA. Not even Miami, FL. When I was working in Austin, TX I met a guy who was born and raised in Miami, FL but went to UCLA for college. He talked about two-hour drives just to get about a dozen miles at times near UCLA. He thought Austin was a breeze. Even Miami traffic was easier by comparison (in his opinion). LA has a special elevated difficulty of commutes that no other city can math on a statistical scale over time it seems (LOL).

As an engineering consultant, it's easy to find an apartment or home near the job. I work about a 3/4 of a mile from my apartment. It's only one stoplight. I don't even get on the freeway - lol. There are people who commute from one extreme side of Phoenix to another - Gilbert to Scottsdale, Apache Junction to Central Phoenix, etc. They are making it far harder than it has to be. But even those commutes pale in comparison to LA. Even the Dolphin Expressway in Miami, FL is mild compared to LA. Nothing seems to get close to LA statistically.

[49erfan916]

Originally Posted by More Rock

We have less people here tailgating you at 78mph while texting and steering with their knees.

I miss those days. I haven't done that in a while.

[Chowhound]

Great replies, appreciate it. Really good to hear that life can be better in other places. I really can't wait to GTFO of here at some point. Like I said I have to drive from project to project and my commute isn't the same all the time. I'll have to look at my schedule and figure out when I can get out there and see for myself what rush hour traffic is really like. I've been out there a bunch in the past, just didn't pay attention back then. I'm putting Phoenix back into the possible relocation running. Looking at ABQ area too, but I don't think that the job market is as good as Phoenix's probably is.

[wase4711]

phoenix traffic only seems bad if you have never lived /driven alot in New York, Chicago, or LA; if you have lived in any of those three areas, then Phoenix traffic will be like Club Med for you..

[Valley Native]

Phoenix traffic is compared a lot to L.A., but the traffic in L.A. is much worse. San Diego, on the other hand, seems relatively light in comparison. All in all, the traffic congestion in the Phoenix metro area is heavy during peak commute times, but generally free flowing during the other times. I have noticed the freeway traffic is much worse in the early afternoons compared to 10 years ago. Keep in mind that traffic will get worse as long as we continue to add growth, but don't upgrade/widen the existing street & freeway system. That's one reason other big cities like L.A. have horrible congestion.

[49erfan916]

I would like to add that the traffic heading from the west valley, to the east valley, or to downtown, during commuting times, seems to be worse than driving from east to west. I have a rather easy morning and afternoon commute.. It takes me 15 minutes or less during my commute. (from Arcadia to downtown) However, I notice on the opposite side of the 10 (heading west), it is bumper-to-bumper traffic. (around 4pm)

[LagunaMom]

We live in Phoenix, but Laguna is like a second home.
We once had a card game going on the 405 on an early Friday afternoon.
It's much worse in Phoenix than it used to be, but generally not as bad as LA.

If you leave, won't you miss the Sig alerts? <g>

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by 49erfan916

I would like to add that the traffic heading from the west valley, to the east valley, or to downtown, during commuting times, seems to be worse than driving from east to west. I have a rather easy morning and afternoon commute.. It takes me 15 minutes or less during my commute. (from Arcadia to downtown) However, I notice on the opposite side of the 10 (heading west), it is bumper-to-bumper traffic. (around 4pm)

Any major freeway that heads into a centralized area is going to be congested during rush hour. Even during the early afternoons, westbound 202 between the 143 & 51/10 interchange is bumper to bumper. Heavier traffic has become a way of life here, but it's still better than in some other major cities.

I think one reason our traffic seems lighter is the weather/climate. We don't have the frequent inclement conditions that affect other metro areas, and our streets & freeways are generally wide & smooth. People frequently complain about how fast Phoenicians drive, but the conditions often allow for it, so they need to either speed up & keep up with the flow, or find another method of commuting.

[teddyearp]

I grew up near and learned to drive on L.A. freeways and out of all the other urban places I have driven in and through, there is NO comparison to L.A. traffic. It's been about 10 years since I've driven the L.A. system, but I remember that there did not seem to be a designated 'rush hour' on L.A. freeways. I have gotten into traffic jams there in the middle of the day and the middle of the night.

Interestingly enough though, during the 1984 Olympics, the freeway system was wide open. I could drive from Bellflower to Pacific Palisades in 35-45 minutes at 10:00 in the morning!