Tracy, Brentwood, Santa Rosa, or Fairfield?

[jade408]

Originally Posted by soccerscotty21

Thank you for your responses, they really help us narrow things down. The problem we are running into with getting closer to civilization like davdaven suggested is that coming from Vegas, we are used to 2000+ square feet and many bedrooms. Going down to 1200 square feet would be a challenge, especially when I will need one room as a dedicated office for the days when I work from home.

Looking further into Tracy, what's everyone's opinion on the commute if I were to drive to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and then take BART to Embarcadero which is only a few blocks from where I will be working. What's the traffic like between Tracy and Pleasanton at 5-6 AM and 5-7 PM? From what I can tell, if traffic isn't bad between Tracy and Pleasanton, that would make my commute roughly 75 minutes each way. I can do that if I don't have to drive it all, especially only twice a week. Any thoughts?

Tracy to Dublin, from 5-7 PM is horrific. The traffic starts at 3 or 330 and doesn't dissipate until about 7:30. It would take about an hour on the way home. Maybe someone in Dublin can chime in on the parking permit situation for Dublin BART and when the non permitted spots fill up?

In Oakland, all of the parking outside of West Oakland is full by about 7am. And the waiting lists for a permit are 1 year or more.

[Bulldogdad]

Only commuting 2-3 days a week? Based on your post I'd go about 15 miles further East to Manteca from Tracy. You can buy a huge home for your 1750 a month and only 15 more miles down the road.

If you've lived in Vegas any of the above options would be more palatable IMO.

I'd commute to Dublin and take BART to the financial district.

I suspect you'll find some carpools as well.

[soccerscotty21]

Anybody know if the BART extension to Livermore is actually going to happen in the next few years? That would cut down a little of the commute time from Tracy. What's the best commute options from Fairfield? It has pretty much been narrowed down to those two places and possibly looking at whatever happens to be available when I am looking next month.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by soccerscotty21

Anybody know if the BART extension to Livermore is actually going to happen in the next few years? That would cut down a little of the commute time from Tracy. What's the best commute options from Fairfield? It has pretty much been narrowed down to those two places and possibly looking at whatever happens to be available when I am looking next month.

Yes, but not in the next 2. They are still fighting over alignment.

You can also consider the Amtrak from Fairfield. You can transfer to BART at Richmond, or take the Amtrak the full way (there is a bus transfer at Emeryville and it drops off in SF at the Ferry Building.).

During the week the train runs at least once an hour, and is pretty speedy.

[jade408]

More commentary on the Livermore BART expansion:
More BART trains, or better service? TransForm says both. | TransForm

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by jade408

Yes, but not in the next 2. They are still fighting over alignment.

You can also consider the Amtrak from Fairfield. You can transfer to BART at Richmond, or take the Amtrak the full way (there is a bus transfer at Emeryville and it drops off in SF at the Ferry Building.).

During the week the train runs at least once an hour, and is pretty speedy.

The Amtrak train from Fairfield to Emeryville is a nice ride. It's called the Capitol Corridor. I've done this many times. Have a friend in Fairfield and I used to take the train from San Jose to Fairfield/Suisun station. I've also done the Capitol Corridor from Davis (used to live there) to Emeryville and taken the Amtrak bus to SF. Have also taken the train from Davis to San Jose then jumped on the Amtrak bus to Santa Cruz. The Capitol Corridor trains are nice, clean and have wi-fi. The buses are waiting outside the station for you, and are clean and comfortable.

The difference between riding the Amtrak train and riding BART is amazing. Sooooooooo much nicer. You can grab a snack, have a beer on the way home, catch up on email. Just no comparison.

http://capitolcorridor.org/on_board/wifi.php

[jade408]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

The Amtrak train from Fairfield to Emeryville is a nice ride. It's called the Capitol Corridor. I've done this many times. Have a friend in Fairfield and I used to take the train from San Jose to Fairfield/Suisun station. I've also done the Capitol Corridor from Davis (used to live there) to Emeryville and taken the Amtrak bus to SF. Have also taken the train from Davis to San Jose then jumped on the Amtrak bus to Santa Cruz. The Capitol Corridor trains are nice, clean and have wi-fi. The buses are waiting outside the station for you, and are clean and comfortable.

The difference between riding the Amtrak train and riding BART is amazing. Sooooooooo much nicer. You can grab a snack, have a beer on the way home, catch up on email. Just no comparison.

Capitol Corridor Trains :: On Board :: Wifi

I am a fan. Although these days I have to take the San Joaquin train to my parents. It is not quite as nice. But I don't have to wait in traffic and there is wifi.