Commuting from Irvine to LA

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<p>I do the Irvine (Westpark) to LA (Bunker Hill) commute 50% of my time, but am lucky to have a friend in Costa Mesa to partner up with. I take the 405-110 route, and actually find it to be quite tolerable using the carpool lanes. And we are doing this at the worst times: Morning: leave home at 7:30am, meet her at Starbucks off of Brookhurst/405 at 7:45am --- and am generally at my desk at 3rd and Grand by 8:45am-9:00am. Afternoon: Leave desk at 5:30pm, usually home by about 6:45pm. So if you are not a train person (like me), check around your office for a carpool partner....It really makes a difference. </p>

<p>I agree with the others here that a solo drive will be a minimum of 90 minutes to sometimes 2 hours. That said, I still do my own car on those days when schedules won't permit for carpooling. My math tells me that the extra minutes I spend driving to/parking at/ and waiting for train on both ends about nets out with driving direct from garage to office. One more tip for the solo commute --- If you've got it, your XM radio subscription will seem like a bargain real quick. As does the $2k option for the voice activiated navigation system. Even though I know where I am going, sometimes I find the conversations with my car as stimulating as a typical conversation with the other folks on the train.....</p>

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<p>One more thing --- I agree with the earlier post that if you are flexible on location, the San Marino/South Pasadena area is fantastic. I have very seriously considered it many times. Those two cities have great public schools, but the price of admission is steep in both. Something else to consider in the same area is North San Gabriel and North Alhambra (immediately surrounding San Marino). Those neighborhoods and homes are right out of a storybook, at a much more reasonable price than San Marino. Schools are decent, but not in the same league as San Marino (or Irvine).....But there are some really great private schools in that area as well, if you consider that an option. </p>
 
I just wish Irvine would have the kind of character like San Marino or North Alhambra. I have not seen any community built in the last 60 years resembles like them. We have better machinery and technology. It is sad that we can not even copy them. I am sure if the builders offer to pay premium wages the real craftsman would be coming out from retirement to built and design homes like those from the storybook.
 
<p>Wow - you are in for a commute. Driving the 5 freeway in the morning? Better be on the freeway no later than 6:15AM... traffic builds up like crazy by the time you hit the 5/605 exchange. I used to get on the freeway at Jamboree and drive to City Hall (approx.)... I'd get to work by around 7:30AM. On the way back, I'd leave around 4:30PM, and not get home unil at least 6PM. I did that for four years - and I was in my late 20's! It really took a toll even then.</p>

<p>I did the train for a while too. It's pretty good (as long as you work near a metro stop downtown)... but if you ever need to leave early and race home, keep in mind that the first train back in the afternoon is something like 2:30PM... you could end up "stuck" in downtown... or paying for taxi (not cheap) As for the 405-110 to downtown "car pool" route... it's ok, because you tend to drive much faster than on the 5N... but you are also covering about 15 more miles...</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>
 
<p>I did this for 4 years. Get ready to wake up EARLY and come home at about 5-7. It can be done but its a toss up on how long it takes. If at all possible avoid the 101, 605 and 710 :lol: The 405 is ok, but just remember that at any time any idiot can crash into you and or anybody else and snarl the crap out of everything. If you can carpool and or vanpool. Your life with be 10x better.</p>

<p>-bix</p>
 
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