anyone in the tampa area?

[athena_ny 1]

Okay, so M and I are looking at moving up to Oldsmar in Pinellas County (from St Pete) so I can cut down on the commute to USF Tampa (my major is only at the Tampa campus). In planning, I need to know what kind of commute I'd be looking at (we know Mapquest isn't accurate because traffic is a bear) - does anyone know how bad it gets going over SR 580 from Oldsmar to Tampa (580 turns into Hillsborough Avenue)?

I've asked some people that I know, but no one down here is too familiar with the Oldsmar area or what kind of commute I'd be looking at. I know we have a lot of folks going through the Tampa office so I'm HOPING someone here can help. (It sounds stupid but I need to know so I can do some planning w/ school and work.)

[LaL 418]

Are you sure you don't want to move to Carrollwood?

I have found that the commute I did from Rocky Point straight down Hillsborough to Dale Mabry during rush hour was pretty well conjested, however once you hit Racetrack Rd, it moved quite swiftly. Is Oldsmar a midpoint for you?

[athena_ny 1]

Are you sure you don't want to move to Carrollwood?

I have found that the commute I did from Rocky Point straight down Hillsborough to Dale Mabry during rush hour was pretty well conjested, however once you hit Racetrack Rd, it moved quite swiftly. Is Oldsmar a midpoint for you?

Yup. His job pays pretty well compared to anything else he looked at (aka, it doesn't pay well but it's the best we can find and he's going to SPC, while I want to finish up my degree (okay, 4 more years ) at USF Tampa. He works down on Ulmerton Rd - Largo/CLW area, so that would bring us both to about 20 miles one way each - still sucky given our traffic, and we WISH we could just move to Tampa, but that would involve him finding a new job, which isn't an avenue we can really take for a lot of reasons.

How long was it from Rocky Point to Dale Mabry? Depending on class/work times I may not be at rush hour, but probably will be at least a few days a week so I need to know a worst case scenario.

(Had I known you lived sorta near there are one point I'd have just PM'd you..oops!)

And that's your house, isn't it? I just looked at your profile and saw you're moving. There goes one from the Tampa area! Good luck selling, I know it's awful out there right now =/

Edited December 30, 2007 by meow mix

[LaL 418]

Are you sure you don't want to move to Carrollwood?

I have found that the commute I did from Rocky Point straight down Hillsborough to Dale Mabry during rush hour was pretty well conjested, however once you hit Racetrack Rd, it moved quite swiftly. Is Oldsmar a midpoint for you?

Yup. His job pays pretty well compared to anything else he looked at (aka, it doesn't pay well but it's the best we can find and he's going to SPC, while I want to finish up my degree (okay, 4 more years ) at USF Tampa. He works down on Ulmerton Rd - Largo/CLW area, so that would bring us both to about 20 miles one way each - still sucky given our traffic, and we WISH we could just move to Tampa, but that would involve him finding a new job, which isn't an avenue we can really take for a lot of reasons.

How long was it from Rocky Point to Dale Mabry? Depending on class/work times I may not be at rush hour, but probably will be at least a few days a week so I need to know a worst case scenario.

(Had I known you lived sorta near there are one point I'd have just PM'd you..oops!)

And that's your house, isn't it? I just looked at your profile and saw you're moving. There goes one from the Tampa area! Good luck selling, I know it's awful out there right now =/

20 miles isn't anything to take lightly in Tampa thats for sure. I lived a couple of blocks north of Hillsborough, and worked on it for several years. Hillsborough moves pretty well aside from rush hours & a bit at lunch (to be expected) from Rocky Point to Dale Mabry worst case would probably be about 20-25 minutes I should think. I can understand the Oldsmar need now, Ulmerton could be a beast to get to in the morning from Carrollwood (/sigh ).

I would say, do the drive when you can during the worst time 5:15pm.

We moved Dec 1st to the center of the country O.o (it's actually very lovely here though)

[athena_ny 1]

Are you sure you don't want to move to Carrollwood?

I have found that the commute I did from Rocky Point straight down Hillsborough to Dale Mabry during rush hour was pretty well conjested, however once you hit Racetrack Rd, it moved quite swiftly. Is Oldsmar a midpoint for you?

Yup. His job pays pretty well compared to anything else he looked at (aka, it doesn't pay well but it's the best we can find and he's going to SPC, while I want to finish up my degree (okay, 4 more years ) at USF Tampa. He works down on Ulmerton Rd - Largo/CLW area, so that would bring us both to about 20 miles one way each - still sucky given our traffic, and we WISH we could just move to Tampa, but that would involve him finding a new job, which isn't an avenue we can really take for a lot of reasons.

How long was it from Rocky Point to Dale Mabry? Depending on class/work times I may not be at rush hour, but probably will be at least a few days a week so I need to know a worst case scenario.

(Had I known you lived sorta near there are one point I'd have just PM'd you..oops!)

And that's your house, isn't it? I just looked at your profile and saw you're moving. There goes one from the Tampa area! Good luck selling, I know it's awful out there right now =/

20 miles isn't anything to take lightly in Tampa thats for sure. I lived a couple of blocks north of Hillsborough, and worked on it for several years. Hillsborough moves pretty well aside from rush hours & a bit at lunch (to be expected) from Rocky Point to Dale Mabry worst case would probably be about 20-25 minutes I should think. I can understand the Oldsmar need now, Ulmerton could be a beast to get to in the morning from Carrollwood (/sigh ).

I would say, do the drive when you can during the worst time 5:15pm.

We moved Dec 1st to the center of the country O.o (it's actually very lovely here though)

So I'd probably be looking at about 45 minutes. I'm planning on doing the drive eventually but was wondering. Once I get to Hillsborough I have to get on 275 and go up to exit 51, but while 275 does get backed up at times, most of the time when I'm that far up it at least moves somewhat

I did the drive last weekend but it was a Saturday morning and took me less than 30 minutes total from Oldsmar to USF..I was like, okay, this is not realistic. This is a Best Case Scenario. I need to get myself familiar with the Tampa area so I can start job searching eventually, too. The actual driving isn't so bad as long as I don't have an 8-5 job and can allow myself some time, but I have to be able to plan.

Thanks so much!

[bora bora 1]

I've heard the traffic in Tampa is bad because of the traffic design. Orland is BAD too, but compared to Tampa I've been told I'm lucky.

Good luck.

[Jamie76 0]

Get a GPS navigation system with traffic updates...you can re-route around the worst of it.

[athena_ny 1]

Get a GPS navigation system with traffic updates...you can re-route around the worst of it.

I'm poor as ######, so that won't work but thanks.

And Bora - Tampa traffic is the worst. And Pinellas county too, not sure about Pasco or Polk or any of those, but good LORD. I look up mapquest directions and automatically double the time it says, and if I get there early I consider myself lucky.

Roads just aren't big enough to handle the traffic - they're widening a lot of roads and doing overpasses here in Pinellas to alleviate some of it, but it still sucks.

[aidan80 9]

I've heard the traffic in Tampa is bad because of the traffic design. Orland is BAD too, but compared to Tampa I've been told I'm lucky.

Good luck.

Orlando isn't bad (Only been to Tampa once) it's the so called drivers that push and force their way through traffic. I've never in my life seen so many aggressive drivers on the road before as I did in Orlando. I'm certain if most drivers in Orlando (or Florida!!) had to take the (sad excuse for a) test over again they almost all fail right away! Indicators arn't ever used, speed limits are more suggested limits.. and where are the speed cameras?... there are NONE! Rules of the road are ignored even by those supposed to be enforcing them!

Insanity on a large scale, that is to me Orlando traffic. so far I've just been a passenger in Orlando traffic

Edited December 31, 2007 by aidan80

[athena_ny 1]

I've heard the traffic in Tampa is bad because of the traffic design. Orland is BAD too, but compared to Tampa I've been told I'm lucky.

Good luck.

Orlando isn't bad (Only been to Tampa once) it's the so called drivers that push and force their way through traffic. I've never in my life seen so many aggressive drivers on the road before as I did in Orlando. I'm certain if most drivers in Orlando (or Florida!!) had to take the (sad excuse for a) test over again they almost all fail right away! Indicators arn't ever used, speed limits are more suggested limits.. and where are the speed cameras?... there are NONE! Rules of the road are ignored even by those supposed to be enforcing them!

Insanity on a large scale, that is to me Orlando traffic. so far I've just been a passenger in Orlando traffic

Miami traffic (to me) is worse than both Tampa and Orlando...I REFUSE to drive in Miami .

Drivers here in the Tampa area are aggressive too - which is particularly bad because then you have some 90 year old going 10 miles an hour on 275 or I-4....

I'm a New York driver, so I drive pretty well (and before we go there, no not the city and most drivers in the city are from NJ or CT), but my husband learned in Florida and he's constantly pushing the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic - he's gotten better since we got the new car but UGH.

As for speed cameras, I do not agree with them so I'm not touching that one.

[LaL 418]

I've heard the traffic in Tampa is bad because of the traffic design. Orland is BAD too, but compared to Tampa I've been told I'm lucky.

Good luck.

Orlando isn't bad (Only been to Tampa once) it's the so called drivers that push and force their way through traffic. I've never in my life seen so many aggressive drivers on the road before as I did in Orlando. I'm certain if most drivers in Orlando (or Florida!!) had to take the (sad excuse for a) test over again they almost all fail right away! Indicators arn't ever used, speed limits are more suggested limits.. and where are the speed cameras?... there are NONE! Rules of the road are ignored even by those supposed to be enforcing them!

Insanity on a large scale, that is to me Orlando traffic. so far I've just been a passenger in Orlando traffic

Miami traffic (to me) is worse than both Tampa and Orlando...I REFUSE to drive in Miami .

Drivers here in the Tampa area are aggressive too - which is particularly bad because then you have some 90 year old going 10 miles an hour on 275 or I-4....

I'm a New York driver, so I drive pretty well (and before we go there, no not the city and most drivers in the city are from NJ or CT), but my husband learned in Florida and he's constantly pushing the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic - he's gotten better since we got the new car but UGH.

As for speed cameras, I do not agree with them so I'm not touching that one.

LOL hey now - I am a native CT'ian and lived in White Plains with commute to NYC. I think I drive pretty well! (I also lived upstate though, perhaps the reason for my good driving then ) Florida traffic in general is pretty sickening! The weaving drove me insane and the highways were worse. Check out my Tampa Road Rage topic from awhile back

[russ 1]

And Bora - Tampa traffic is the worst. And Pinellas county too, not sure about Pasco or Polk or any of those, but good LORD. I look up mapquest directions and automatically double the time it says, and if I get there early I consider myself lucky.

Roads just aren't big enough to handle the traffic - they're widening a lot of roads and doing overpasses here in Pinellas to alleviate some of it, but it still sucks.

It still will be a long drive, sorry. I drive from downtown St Pete to USF, which is a nasty drive when there is traffic. Fortunately, the wife's grad school program is at the St Pete campus, so just a short walk from home, and I work from home.

I know quite a few people who drive from St Pete to USF everyday, carpooling out there is a good option.

[athena_ny 1]

I've heard the traffic in Tampa is bad because of the traffic design. Orland is BAD too, but compared to Tampa I've been told I'm lucky.

Good luck.

Orlando isn't bad (Only been to Tampa once) it's the so called drivers that push and force their way through traffic. I've never in my life seen so many aggressive drivers on the road before as I did in Orlando. I'm certain if most drivers in Orlando (or Florida!!) had to take the (sad excuse for a) test over again they almost all fail right away! Indicators arn't ever used, speed limits are more suggested limits.. and where are the speed cameras?... there are NONE! Rules of the road are ignored even by those supposed to be enforcing them!

Insanity on a large scale, that is to me Orlando traffic. so far I've just been a passenger in Orlando traffic

Miami traffic (to me) is worse than both Tampa and Orlando...I REFUSE to drive in Miami .

Drivers here in the Tampa area are aggressive too - which is particularly bad because then you have some 90 year old going 10 miles an hour on 275 or I-4....

I'm a New York driver, so I drive pretty well (and before we go there, no not the city and most drivers in the city are from NJ or CT), but my husband learned in Florida and he's constantly pushing the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic - he's gotten better since we got the new car but UGH.

As for speed cameras, I do not agree with them so I'm not touching that one.

LOL hey now - I am a native CT'ian and lived in White Plains with commute to NYC. I think I drive pretty well! (I also lived upstate though, perhaps the reason for my good driving then ) Florida traffic in general is pretty sickening! The weaving drove me insane and the highways were worse. Check out my Tampa Road Rage topic from awhile back

No offense meant People just hear "New York" and tell me, THEN YOU CAN'T DRIVE! I never said all people from CT and NJ can't drive - just that the ones who can't make NYC bad! Okay, and Long Island and downstate NY - but they should be another state than where I'm from for all I am concerned. Hehehe. Am just kidding. Where I'm from, traffic isn't that bad and led to me being a rather calm and decent driver. So when I drive here, I almost have a heart attack sometimes because people drive so badly. *shudders*

Edited December 31, 2007 by meow mix

[athena_ny 1]

And Bora - Tampa traffic is the worst. And Pinellas county too, not sure about Pasco or Polk or any of those, but good LORD. I look up mapquest directions and automatically double the time it says, and if I get there early I consider myself lucky.

Roads just aren't big enough to handle the traffic - they're widening a lot of roads and doing overpasses here in Pinellas to alleviate some of it, but it still sucks.

It still will be a long drive, sorry. I drive from downtown St Pete to USF, which is a nasty drive when there is traffic. Fortunately, the wife's grad school program is at the St Pete campus, so just a short walk from home, and I work from home.

I know quite a few people who drive from St Pete to USF everyday, carpooling out there is a good option.

I WISH the St Pete Campus had my program (COmmunication Sciences and Disorders) but alas, no.

Downtown St Pete to USF I'd never ever do, which is why we're thinking Oldsmar, to cut quite a few miles off per day. I'm expecting a long-ish drive, and at this point it's the miles that matter to me more, but I need to be able to plan for class times and work, and all that. Especially consider we'll still have to make car payments somehow after I quit my full time job and find a part time that will be almost full time but paying a lot less... want to put as few miles on that car as possible.

[LaL 418]

I became a nervous driver in FL. I was hit 4 times in the course of 2 years (2003-2005) none of which my fault. Hey - I even got rear-ended on Hillsborough . Yeah I hate FL traffic. It made simple 2 hour trips a lot more hectic.

Now I have to get used to the traffic here - which is an improvement thankfully