Commute to UCSF :( (Sunnyvale, Daly City, Richmond: day care, transfer, living in)

[HalimaTN]

HI,

I will be moving to SFO from the Midwest. Ill be working at UCSF while my husbands job is in Cupertino. Which areas should we be looking at for living, making the commute easy for both of us? We were looking at areas like Daly City and Colma, from where I can drive and he can take the Bart. We also need recommendations for a Daycare for our little one, preferably near UCSF. From what I have gathered, the commute to UCSF is very difficult, the parking prices really high and virtually no simple public transport route to get there. any guidance in terms of housing, commute and day care search will be appreciated. Thanks!!

[cantab]

Cupertino and UCSF are very far apart - this will be a difficult commute no matter how you slice it. I'm curious why you mention him taking BART. BART does not go anywhere near Cupertino, and Caltrain does not directly go there either. Does he have access to some sort of employer shuttle, and if so, where are the pickups for that shuttle? I would try to live near that pickup, ideally, since that would be one fewer step in his commute.

If both of you are driving, you will want to live somewhere along Interstate 280, and Daly City is as reasonably priced as you'll get. Traffic will be bad though.

A second option is to live in SoMa, although that is quite expensive now. You could take the N-Judah train to UCSF, and he could take Caltrain to Sunnyvale or Mountain View and then an Uber or bus or something from there to Cupertino. I think some people leave a car at the caltrain station to drive to work. Where exactly in Cupertino will he be working?

A third option is to live in Silicon Valley near a caltrain stop. He would have an easy drive to Cupertino, and you could take Caltrain + N-Judah to commute, about 1.5 hours each way, or drive to UCSF if you are going at an off-peak time. If you lived in downtown Mountain View or Sunnyvale you could walk to the express train, drive to Cupertino easily, and have plenty of shops nearby.

[HalimaTN]

Actually, my husband wants to take his employer's shuttle, which runs from many places in SFO and also from Colma and will be an hr each way. So far, our best bet has been Colma. He is pretty flexible on his commute because of the shuttle pickup locations, but I an unable to find a good public transport route from Daly City/Colma to goto UCSF. All options included atleast 1 transfer and 45 mins commute time, and I would want to minimize that as much as possible (because of my daughter)

I do like the idea of SoMa and will look into it. His company's shuttle runs from Soma as well.

The problem with living in Silicon valley (this was initially our first response too), is that I want to be close to the day care as well, and either I take my daughter on the caltrain 1.5hrs each way, or my husband does. But his hours are unsure so it will be risky for us.

I do appreciate your advise though

[cantab]

Originally Posted by HalimaTN

Actually, my husband wants to take his employer's shuttle, which runs from many places in SFO and also from Colma and will be an hr each way. So far, our best bet has been Colma. He is pretty flexible on his commute because of the shuttle pickup locations, but I an unable to find a good public transport route from Daly City/Colma to goto UCSF. All options included atleast 1 transfer and 45 mins commute time, and I would want to minimize that as much as possible (because of my daughter)

I do like the idea of SoMa and will look into it. His company's shuttle runs from Soma as well.

The problem with living in Silicon valley (this was initially our first response too), is that I want to be close to the day care as well, and either I take my daughter on the caltrain 1.5hrs each way, or my husband does. But his hours are unsure so it will be risky for us.

I do appreciate your advise though

In that case, I think Colma is a reasonable choice. However, I would first look along the N-Judah in the Sunset. I think Apple's shuttle stops at 19th & Judah, and the Sunset is relatively reasonably priced.

[sonarrat]

Seconded for something along the N-Judah line; besides the other reasons listed, that's the primary way to get to UCSF Parnassus campus by public transit.

[CBB_bear]

Are you talking about the Parnassus campus or the Mission Bay campus?

[HalimaTN]

the Parnassus campus

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by HalimaTN

HI,
From what I have gathered, the commute to UCSF is very difficult, the parking prices really high and virtually no simple public transport route to get there. any guidance in terms of housing, commute and day care search will be appreciated. Thanks!!

To UCSF

1)take Bart to Glen Park and take the 44 bus to 9th and Judah, walk to UCSF or hope for the 43 to come along soon.

2)take Bart To Balboa Park and take the 43 bus to UCSF.

3)take Bart to Civic Center and take N train outbound to UCSF (this way seems longer).

By midwestern standards this may seem like a tedious commute but it is relatively easy by Bay area standards where people endure horrible commutes on jam packed Bart trains from East bay and daily traffic jams on the bridges.

[ServoMiff]

Lots of good advice here so far.

One other consideration, depending on your budget - If you live within the SF city limits, you can get anywhere in the city via Uber pool or Lyft Line for around $7 each way. So, living somewhere just north of Daly City might be an option, but avoid east of 280.

However, I agree with others that say the Sunset should be considered highly as well.

[NorCalLover]

Yeah, live in SF near a shuttle stop. The Sunset, The Richmond, Glen Park, Cole Valley, and Duboce Triangle would all be good choices for a family. You can take transit to work and drop your daughter off on the way or find a daycare near home, while your husband takes the shuttle.