Any Worcester commuters?

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

Hello neighbors -

I'm hoping that a couple of you commute to Worcester for work, and are willing to share your routes, times, tips, observations, frustrations & etc. with me. I am interviewing for a job in Worcester in a week or so, and am collecting info with which to evaluate the possibility of working out there, should it present itself. (I'm not interested in moving to Worcester or the surrounding burbs -- I'd stay put in the square and re-evaluate when my current lease is up . . . and likely move somewhere in the metro area that's just more convenient to the Pike.)

I'm from the Worcester area originally, so I don't need the geography lesson, I'm just after the nuts-and-bolts of your commute since I've always T'd into the city for work/school. If you prefer, you can email me instead of replying here: spinstah at gmail dot com. Thanks!

Comments

[dangerousface.livejournal.com]

I don't commute for work out there, but just to see my boyfriend.

The commuter rail line sucks. It's ALWAYS late--that's the only thing that's consistent about it. It's about an hour on an express train and an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes on a regular train.

Greyhound/Peter Pan run out there, too, but they're also late all the time--I've been up to an hour in either direction traveling at off times--rush hour is worse.

I suppose driving could be better..?

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

Yeah, commuter rail is not really an option going out there at all. I've never taken that line, but I've never heard anything good about it.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Your best bet for getting to work in the morning is probably to drive down to Harvard Square, cross the river to Allston and pick up the Pike there. Don't even think about Rt 2 to 128, because 128 is usually a parking lot. There are also no realistic mass transit options, because the train system is optimized for bringing workers into the city.

I work in Southborough and live in East Somerville, so I take 93 to the Pike and drive out that way. I don't vary my route much, unless I run errands on Rt 9 before I head home after work. I usually leave home a little after 7 and get to work around 8. I have a pretty consistent 45-minute drive out there, barring traffic accidents or bad weather. The drive home is significantly more variable - the Pike can jam up badly between 495 and 128, as well as between 128 and the city tolls. Depending on the nature of your job, you can probably avoid rush hour in the morning or the evening, but not both (unless you're working really long hours).

When you're calculating the cost of your commute, you need to account for tolls (get a FastLane box if you don't already have one, it's essential), extra mileage on your car, and more frequent oil changes and repairs. You also need a backup plan if you have car trouble (I can work from home, or from the lounge at the car dealership, but if you have a job that can't be done remotely that won't work).

Friday evening commutes are consistently the worst. If you can leave early (like before 4) on Fridays, that helps a lot.

I started working out west because my company moved our offices out of downtown Boston. I gave it 3 months before I decided not to quit over the commute, but it was a close call. If you have a decent option for working closer to home, my advice would be to avoid the commute. Driving takes time and energy, and being alone in your car is very isolating (even with a phone and radio or books on tape). One thing that really surprised me was how much I missed being part of a crowd on the subway and walking around the city.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info and the tips on things to consider. I'd love to work in the city, but so far I'm not getting any bites on my local applications.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

My ex commuted out to Worcester and found 2 to be the way to go. 2->495->290. I tried it a few times as well and it was quite speedy.

While getting on the Pike early could be useful, I would imagine going through Harvard to Allston would take a long long time in itself, so it might not balance.

My experience with the commuter rail was fine, other than it taking a long time, but it's time that can be used to work or read or the like, anyway.

[valadil.livejournal.com]

I'll second 2->495->290. I haven't done it at rush hour though, but one weekends its at least as fast as the pike.

[slinkr.livejournal.com]

Thanks for correcting my bad advice re Rt 2. Rt 2 itself is not bad, so if you don't need 128 it should be fine.

I've only tried going through Harvard Square in the summer, when school was not in session. I thought it would take too long, but it was really quick and turned out to be my best bet for going to work from Porter Square. Harvard Square is pretty quiet at 8:00 on a weekday because most of the stores aren't open yet.

[cowhockey.livejournal.com]

it also matters at what time of day you're driving. i take 2 to 128 to the pike for work, but i leave at 6:15, so traffic's fine then.

[ursamajor]

My SO commutes out to Framingham for work and has the following thoughts to pass along:

1. Leave early to go *to* work. When he leaves by 7:15, it's a 45 minute commute for him. When he leaves after that, it varies from 60-90 minutes; the later in the morning, the longer it is.

2. Leave early to come home *from* work. On school days, he leaves by 4-4:15, and again, 45 minute commute back into the city. On days where he doesn't have school, he leaves work later (5ish 6ish) to finish up things he couldn't get done on school days, and it becomes a 60-90 minute commute again.

3. Fridays coming home, you're generally screwed. Leaving at 5, it takes him about 2 hours to get home, due to Pike traffic.

4. He goes through Harvard Square to get to Soldiers' Field Road to get onto the Pike at Exit 17, rather than Exit 18. Less of a timesaver than a moneysaver (though the time difference is usually minimal), but that's $14/week in tolls instead of $24/week.

[thedoubleduches.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm sure they wouldn't care if I was getting in early, but I'm not sure how they are on flexing time to leave early. :) I've added that to my list of questions.