seattle traffic to kent
May 15th, 2007, 02:08 PM
#1
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seattle traffic to kent
is the traffic from seattle to kent and vice versa, bad?
if, and thats a big if, we move to seattle, my husband will have a job in kent, i will have a job in seattle, what neighborhood is good to live in. also, isnt the weather in seattle gloomy and rainy like 95% of the time?
just curious, i was the one that posted its boring here, talking about southern oregon and how i wanted to move back to chicago! no offers in chicago... so we will see. thanks for all your help guys, your great!
if, and thats a big if, we move to seattle, my husband will have a job in kent, i will have a job in seattle, what neighborhood is good to live in. also, isnt the weather in seattle gloomy and rainy like 95% of the time?
just curious, i was the one that posted its boring here, talking about southern oregon and how i wanted to move back to chicago! no offers in chicago... so we will see. thanks for all your help guys, your great!
May 15th, 2007, 02:16 PM
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It rains less in Seattle than it does in New York City, but NYC has more sunny days.
This site has information that may interest you: http://seattle.about.com/
This site has information that may interest you: http://seattle.about.com/
May 15th, 2007, 02:26 PM
#3
He'd be going against the flow if you live in Seattle. Which is not to say it's a fun commute - probably 30-40 min. from most parts of the city.
As for what neighborhood, sheesh. What do you like, what can you afford? Big city, plenty of choices, expensive, yadda. Homework time.
As for what neighborhood, sheesh. What do you like, what can you afford? Big city, plenty of choices, expensive, yadda. Homework time.
May 15th, 2007, 02:41 PM
#4
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i know its a big city an lots of choices. i would like to be close to the city and restaurants easy access to the freeway, maybe southern part of seattle. if hes going against the traffic it might not be that bad.
i was looking on mapquest and from some asddresses in the city to kent its 15-20 miles, so im guessing thats 20-30 min. im not sure though because i am not aware of the traffic conditions.
let me know
thanks again!
i was looking on mapquest and from some asddresses in the city to kent its 15-20 miles, so im guessing thats 20-30 min. im not sure though because i am not aware of the traffic conditions.
let me know
thanks again!
May 15th, 2007, 02:49 PM
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AM commuting from Seattle to Kent shouldn't be bad. It's the reverse commute.
South Seattle isn't particularly "nice". Many areas would be considered transition, so it really depends on your comfort level. Also, if schools are a factor, there's been quite a bit of press lately about the problems the Seattle schools have been experiencing.
Maybe West Seattle, although it can be pricey. There are retail areas with many restaurants and shops. The area is funky and fun. The commute to Seattle would be up 99, which is better than I-5, however, the West Seattle bridge can get bottlenecked. Check redfin.com or johnlscott.com or one of the other realtors to see what the area pricing is.
South Seattle isn't particularly "nice". Many areas would be considered transition, so it really depends on your comfort level. Also, if schools are a factor, there's been quite a bit of press lately about the problems the Seattle schools have been experiencing.
Maybe West Seattle, although it can be pricey. There are retail areas with many restaurants and shops. The area is funky and fun. The commute to Seattle would be up 99, which is better than I-5, however, the West Seattle bridge can get bottlenecked. Check redfin.com or johnlscott.com or one of the other realtors to see what the area pricing is.
May 15th, 2007, 02:57 PM
#6
Okay.
Kent is accessed either via I-5 and then the Kent/Des Moines road across the Kent/Auburn Valley, or via I-405 to SR 167 (freeway.) I-5 southbound from the city is typically not an issue, but there aren't many residential neighborhoods in the southern part of town that are especially close to I-5; topography and industrial areas get in the way. So getting to I-5 can involve traffic that intends to head north into the city once you get to the freeway, but that won't help him as he'll be using the same streets as far as I-5.
I-405 is a "ring" road that loops from I-5 a little north of the Kent turnoff to a little south of Everett in the northern suburbs. I-405 has terrible traffic in both directions. To get to SR 167 southbound he'd need to take I-5 to I-405, encounter the 405 traffic for a couple of miles to the 167 interchange, then it ought to be smooth sailing to Kent.
Note too that Kent is not so small itself, and "where" in Kent is important. Lots of Boeing and related industry there, with a lot of commuters.
If you live in south Seattle, he could also commute on surface streets that run parallel to Lake Washington, down to Renton and the 405/167 interchange, but again depending on specific location it could be okay or miserable to use that route.
Some of the nicer neighborhoods in south Seattle include Mt. Baker, parts of Columbia City (up-and-coming gentrification neighborhood) as well as parts of Beacon Hill and West Seattle. There are some less nice areas too, but nowhere in Seattle qualifies as a really terrible neighborhood.
Seattleites grouse about terrible traffic hereabouts; truth is it's not much different from any major city, except we have these inconvenient lakes and hills that channel traffic into narrow corridors, so the number of alternate routes for any origin/destination are limited.
All very subjective stuff, though. One vanpool could make all the difference.
Kent is accessed either via I-5 and then the Kent/Des Moines road across the Kent/Auburn Valley, or via I-405 to SR 167 (freeway.) I-5 southbound from the city is typically not an issue, but there aren't many residential neighborhoods in the southern part of town that are especially close to I-5; topography and industrial areas get in the way. So getting to I-5 can involve traffic that intends to head north into the city once you get to the freeway, but that won't help him as he'll be using the same streets as far as I-5.
I-405 is a "ring" road that loops from I-5 a little north of the Kent turnoff to a little south of Everett in the northern suburbs. I-405 has terrible traffic in both directions. To get to SR 167 southbound he'd need to take I-5 to I-405, encounter the 405 traffic for a couple of miles to the 167 interchange, then it ought to be smooth sailing to Kent.
Note too that Kent is not so small itself, and "where" in Kent is important. Lots of Boeing and related industry there, with a lot of commuters.
If you live in south Seattle, he could also commute on surface streets that run parallel to Lake Washington, down to Renton and the 405/167 interchange, but again depending on specific location it could be okay or miserable to use that route.
Some of the nicer neighborhoods in south Seattle include Mt. Baker, parts of Columbia City (up-and-coming gentrification neighborhood) as well as parts of Beacon Hill and West Seattle. There are some less nice areas too, but nowhere in Seattle qualifies as a really terrible neighborhood.
Seattleites grouse about terrible traffic hereabouts; truth is it's not much different from any major city, except we have these inconvenient lakes and hills that channel traffic into narrow corridors, so the number of alternate routes for any origin/destination are limited.
All very subjective stuff, though. One vanpool could make all the difference.
May 15th, 2007, 04:16 PM
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ha ha sweet! when we went to seattle in feb it was a littel cold and it was raining but i was thinking that the summer should be better.
that sounds great. we probably wont be looking for a house, more like an apt. i always thought it would be cool to live in the downtown part of a big city. i know the price is higher but you only live once, right?
my biggest concern is my husbands commute, although he says, if living over there will make you happy, i dont care about the drive! the carpool lane is another good idea, have to find out if others live in the seattle area.
i figured if we lived in seattle and he worked in kent he would be going against the traffic each way. seattle to kent in the morning, then kent to seattle in the evening. should miss traffic at both times, right?
just out of curiosity, does seattle have a lot of authentic restaruants?
that sounds great. we probably wont be looking for a house, more like an apt. i always thought it would be cool to live in the downtown part of a big city. i know the price is higher but you only live once, right?
my biggest concern is my husbands commute, although he says, if living over there will make you happy, i dont care about the drive! the carpool lane is another good idea, have to find out if others live in the seattle area.
i figured if we lived in seattle and he worked in kent he would be going against the traffic each way. seattle to kent in the morning, then kent to seattle in the evening. should miss traffic at both times, right?
just out of curiosity, does seattle have a lot of authentic restaruants?
May 15th, 2007, 04:20 PM
#10
Well of course it rains in the winter-time. I'm looking out the window right now and it is blazingly sunny and in the low 70's.
Yes Seattle has oodles of "authentic" restaurants.
I live on Capitol Hill which would be considered a "cool neighborhood" by most. If you're lucky you can find a 1-bedroom condo for around $285,000 to $325,000. Downtown 1-bedroom condos go for more like $325,000+.
Yes Seattle has oodles of "authentic" restaurants.
I live on Capitol Hill which would be considered a "cool neighborhood" by most. If you're lucky you can find a 1-bedroom condo for around $285,000 to $325,000. Downtown 1-bedroom condos go for more like $325,000+.
May 15th, 2007, 04:22 PM
#11
My best suggestion would be to find a place where your husband could use public transportation to commute, rather than drive solo in a car.
If you were near an Express bus line or a park & ride, that would be ideal. In fact I would choose your neighborhood with that as one of the highest priorities.
If you were near an Express bus line or a park & ride, that would be ideal. In fact I would choose your neighborhood with that as one of the highest priorities.
May 15th, 2007, 04:50 PM
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does the bus service run to kent from seattle? that is something we were talking about, he said if the bus could take him from seattle to kent then back home it wouldnt be a problem. but i was unsure if there was a bus system that did that.
gosh, i wish i would have found this form before!! everyone is very helpful
gosh, i wish i would have found this form before!! everyone is very helpful
May 16th, 2007, 12:19 PM
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We live in Renton, which is a tad north of Kent (but south of Seattle) and we love it. We studiously avoid the freeway...as we cruise along our alternate routes we frequently see that the freeway is a parking lot.
In addition to the bus, there is the Sounder commuter train with a terminal in Kent (at Kent Station, which, in addition to being a literal description, is also a brand-new shopping area).
You will find good and bad in every place you look. Kent has some wonderful neighborhoods, as does Renton.
(Pssst...you have to promise to tell everyone that it rains 95 pct of the time just to keep them from moving here!)
In addition to the bus, there is the Sounder commuter train with a terminal in Kent (at Kent Station, which, in addition to being a literal description, is also a brand-new shopping area).
You will find good and bad in every place you look. Kent has some wonderful neighborhoods, as does Renton.
(Pssst...you have to promise to tell everyone that it rains 95 pct of the time just to keep them from moving here!)
May 16th, 2007, 12:37 PM
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If the main question in the title of this section is sincere, then once you get to know the area, it will be little more than a cinch to get to Kent each day, against the grain...
Strategically I'd say that West Seattle would be quite suitable in terms of being a nice area, and with reasonable access to Kent at commuter time.
Many areas surrounding West Seattle, such as "south park" and "White Center" are NOT so desirable (by whimpy Seattle standards, not by huge metropolis with terrible crime standards).
Seattle has so many hills that it has a tough time having the truly terrible neighborhoods.
Hope this helps somehow.
Strategically I'd say that West Seattle would be quite suitable in terms of being a nice area, and with reasonable access to Kent at commuter time.
Many areas surrounding West Seattle, such as "south park" and "White Center" are NOT so desirable (by whimpy Seattle standards, not by huge metropolis with terrible crime standards).
Seattle has so many hills that it has a tough time having the truly terrible neighborhoods.
Hope this helps somehow.
May 16th, 2007, 02:00 PM
#18
it's downright strange, how many times when i am anwering posts like this one... that it is sunny outside.
Yesterday afternoon was 75 and sunny, this morning was rainy and cool, afternoon again, now the sun's come out... you get the idea. That is absolutely typical here.
Yesterday afternoon was 75 and sunny, this morning was rainy and cool, afternoon again, now the sun's come out... you get the idea. That is absolutely typical here.
May 16th, 2007, 02:01 PM
#19
The Sounder train service unfortunately only works for those traveling to downtown Seattle in the morning, not the other way, so it's inapplicable for your husband.
Agreed, commute times are not excessive compared to other cities. Central Seattle to Kent would be something like Lincoln Park to maybe Downers Grove or some such. And yes, the bus system is very comprehensive.
Agreed, commute times are not excessive compared to other cities. Central Seattle to Kent would be something like Lincoln Park to maybe Downers Grove or some such. And yes, the bus system is very comprehensive.
May 16th, 2007, 11:42 PM
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humm.. im thinking... thanks for all of the help and information. i dont know how long of a commute he wants to make but we will have to see. it seems like the expressway in the seattle area was not planned right or something. when we were there traffic was pretty bad.
