Please Tell Me - Commute to Kirkland (Seattle, Tacoma: rental car, apartment)

[AADAD]

I've been watching traffic on google looking at commute from Mulkiteo to Seattle and Kirkland. The afternoon commute from Seattle looks like a daily tragedy. I have options in both cities. Commute time will vary 0600 -0800 from Mulkiteo and 1500- 2000 to Mulkiteo

[Hemlock140]

In the last couple of days we had the misfortune of making that run as part of a longer trip. From Seattle to Mukilteo in the morning was not bad at all, but the other direction was a parking lot at 7:15. In the afternoon it was worst leaving Seattle, but once we got to about Shoreline, both directions of I5 were awful. Kirkland to Seattle is not that bad, apparently the toll on th 520 bridge has reduced the traffic from what it used to be. We crossed yesterday about 7:30am at the speed limit. Going down 405 from Kirkland to 520 was jammed, but is only a few miles.

[Gardyloo]

Neither is going to be a picnic; I-5 can be jammed in both directions in the PM (less awful in the mornings) but I-405 is no slouch on the congestion front either, especially around Canyon Park/Bothell.

Would either workplace be accessible by public transport? Or are your working hours too variable for that to work (or a vanpool for that matter?)

[AADAD]

I checked on the train to Seattle however it arrives just minutes before I go on duty. Bummer.

[AADAD]

it appears there is a toll road on 405 which may help me when I work until 3pm going North to Mulkiteo. Honestly I can't see a way clear to work in Seattle. I'm trying to keep in mind that I would be heading south at 0600 and north at 1930 but it still appears arduous.

[OneTimeSEALover]

Originally Posted by Gardyloo

Neither is going to be a picnic; I-5 can be jammed in both directions in the PM (less awful in the mornings) but I-405 is no slouch on the congestion front either, especially around Canyon Park/Bothell.

Would either workplace be accessible by public transport? Or are your working hours too variable for that to work (or a vanpool for that matter?)

Remember a tourist trip where I rented a car at SeaTac, and headed for Portland at 4:30. Wow. Averaging maybe between 5 and 10 mph for at least ten miles. Lesson learned. Arrive late. Maybe head somewhere at 10pm. Honestly Seattle may not qualify for worst gridlock. But the places that are worse I don't every want to go. Not with a rental car. The train trip south would have been easier on my nerves.

[XoXSciFiGuy]

After living here in South King County since 1967, I can tell you that commuting here is a tricky business.


There are some choices, and some things to remember.


1) You can develop an alternate route using Google Maps. Maybe.


2) Try to live or work in places where you are doing the REVERSE commute. In other words, if you live in Seattle, your best choice is to work SOUTH of Seattle, and vice versa.


3) If you can't do it right now, at least try planning for a future where you live closer to where you work.


4) If you live in South King County, your best work and easiest commute will be somewhere in the Puyallup/Tacoma area, since this is a reverse commute. Or try to avoid taking any job north of the Southcenter/Renton area.


5) Public transportation can take some getting used to if you haven't done it before, but once you do it for a while to get to work, you'll never want to fight traffic again.


6) When you look for an apartment, check the availability of good public transportation nearby before making the decision to move there. Otherwise, you'll always have to take your car.


7) One of the BIG problems in Puget Sound, and why commutes get more difficult, is because new housing developments are often built to make it difficult to use their streets as an alternate route. Support efforts to change the laws on building permits so that high-falootin' developers can't keep closing off new neighborhoods. In the old days, it was much easier to get around before builders started doing this. These days, this phenomenon of 'closed neighborhoods' has become more common. They should share their streets like everyone else.


8) Stay off your frickin' cell phone so you don't kill yourself or others. If you're a smartphone junkie, start taking the bus, and STOP crossing the center line on people like me.


9) I know a lot of people who sacrificed their quality of life and TIME to live in places that make for a very tough commute. Time is the one resource that is universally limited in your life. Make plans to find a place closer to where you work. You'll be happier, and you'll always be there for dinner with your family.


10) If you choose the tough commute life in Puget Sound, for God's sake make sure you get away on a vacation or recreation activity on a regular basis or you'll either die early, go crazy, or end up in divorce court.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by AADAD

I checked on the train to Seattle however it arrives just minutes before I go on duty. Bummer.

Look at Community Transit #417 from Mukilteo to Seattle:

Schedules

CT #880 takes you from Mukilteo to within walking distance (Steven's Way) of the UW Light Rail Station (8-10 minutes to Downtown Seattle):

Schedules

[AADAD]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

Look at Community Transit #417 from Mukilteo to Seattle:

Schedules

CT #880 takes you from Mukilteo to within walking distance (Steven's Way) of the UW Light Rail Station (8-10 minutes to Downtown Seattle):

Schedules

hmmm. appreciated. I don't see those working for an 0630 arrival near swedish cherry hill unfortunately. please correct me if I'm incorrect.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by AADAD

hmmm. appreciated. I don't see those working for an 0630 arrival near swedish cherry hill unfortunately. please correct me if I'm incorrect.

Commute time will vary 0600 -0800 from Mulkiteo

If starting at 6:30 am, just drive. While not an easy commute, it shouldn't be an awful one either.

When you said "Seattle", I assumed somewhere Downtown. Cherry Hill is not Downtown, not even First Hill (Cherry Hill = Second Hill).

Whether for later arrival times the CT 417 or 880 options would be better than driving, I don't know:

1. CT 417 -> MT 3/4
2. CT 880 -> UW Light Rail -> First Hill Streetcar -> MT 3/4

Better doesn't mean shorter (time-wise), but could mean less stressful.