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Old 10-09-2009, 10:17 PM
 
Location: Duvall, WA
1,677 posts, read 6,828,265 times
Reputation: 644

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I'm looking for real experiences from people who make the commute from the Maple Valley park and ride on 231st into Seattle on a daily basis. I am hoping to get a realistic overview of what the commute is like trying to get to downtown by 8am.

Most interested in actual time the commute takes, how crowded the buses are, etc. It just doesn't seem like there are enough buses going to and from there, so I'm trying to get a real picture.

My husband has new hours at work, and those cheap houses in Maple Valley are starting to look really good.

Thanks!
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Old 10-09-2009, 11:48 PM
 
9,618 posts, read 27,228,180 times
Reputation: 5382
I used to take the 143 bus into downtown from Renton, but the bus came from Maple Valley, and I would be on the bus that got into downtown just before 8 AM. There would always be a few seats left when the bus stopped in Renton, and I believe the trip from the Maple Valley Park and Ride to 4th and Union downtown takes 55 minutes.
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Old 10-10-2009, 01:15 AM
 
Location: Duvall, WA
1,677 posts, read 6,828,265 times
Reputation: 644
Thanks, Ira. We may consider Maple Valley when we start looking again, but I'm a bit worried about the infrequency of the buses. Wish I could rep you more!
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Old 10-10-2009, 09:12 AM
 
Location: Seattle, WA
297 posts, read 1,032,196 times
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Are you still living in the Issaquah Highlands, Veronika? I miss that area sometimes. Me and my girlfriend went to the Salmon Days festival in Issaquah and I was reminded how nice that area is.

However there are cheaper houses in Maple Valley, you're right. Sometimes you have to sacrifice location to own. I bought my first condo near the Seatac Airport. It's a good feeling to own your own place.
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Old 10-10-2009, 12:03 PM
 
Location: Duvall, WA
1,677 posts, read 6,828,265 times
Reputation: 644
Quote:
Originally Posted by la_fuerza View Post
Are you still living in the Issaquah Highlands, Veronika? I miss that area sometimes. Me and my girlfriend went to the Salmon Days festival in Issaquah and I was reminded how nice that area is.

However there are cheaper houses in Maple Valley, you're right. Sometimes you have to sacrifice location to own. I bought my first condo near the Seatac Airport. It's a good feeling to own your own place.
Yeah, we're still in the highlands. I love it up here, but we'd have to make twice what we make now to buy here.

We're hoping to buy in summer of 2010, but we're still trying to figure out if we want to stay in WA (hard to be away from family with 2 small kids).

Congrats on your place! I can't wait until we own our own place!

V. =)
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Old 10-10-2009, 12:58 PM
 
1,632 posts, read 6,819,270 times
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I don't commute from Maple Valley, but I sometimes take the 143 bus that Ira mentioned, from the Renton Transit Center. It originates in Maple Valley, and while it's usually quite full by the time it gets to downtown Seattle, everyone has had a seat, at least on the times that I've taken this route.

It's a relatively long commute, but a lot of people do it, obviously. There have been times, after an especially long and hard day, where I got off the bus in Renton feeling sorry for the Maple Valley folks who need to stay on the bus for another 25 minutes or so.

Here's the timetable:

Metro Route 143 Timetable, Weekday (http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/schedules/s143_0_.html - broken link)

Quote:
Originally Posted by VeronikaW View Post
I'm looking for real experiences from people who make the commute from the Maple Valley park and ride on 231st into Seattle on a daily basis. I am hoping to get a realistic overview of what the commute is like trying to get to downtown by 8am.

Most interested in actual time the commute takes, how crowded the buses are, etc. It just doesn't seem like there are enough buses going to and from there, so I'm trying to get a real picture.

My husband has new hours at work, and those cheap houses in Maple Valley are starting to look really good.

Thanks!
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Old 10-11-2009, 01:13 AM
 
Location: Greater Seattle, WA Metro Area
1,930 posts, read 6,512,111 times
Reputation: 907
One thought would be to have him drive out there someday and actually do the bus commute to and from work to see what he thinks. It's a lot to sign up for if it's every day for years and years.
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Old 10-12-2009, 12:59 PM
 
Location: Seattle area
854 posts, read 4,129,436 times
Reputation: 527
Or, you could just wait until summer of 2011, and buy pretty much anything you want -- according to my graph, it'll all be free by then!
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Old 10-12-2009, 11:06 PM
 
Location: Duvall, WA
1,677 posts, read 6,828,265 times
Reputation: 644
Quote:
Originally Posted by jenlion View Post
Or, you could just wait until summer of 2011, and buy pretty much anything you want -- according to my graph, it'll all be free by then!
That sounds hopeful, I've got my eye on a house up the hill from me. LOL
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