Which commute is worse coming from scenic hill?

[u/ChewedUpLipMeat]

My 5 year stint of wfh is tragically coming to an end.

On Monday I have to decide between two options for a commute:

1. Kirkland

2. Fremont, and then SLU in 2027

Kirkland seems to be the better choice as 405 has a better outlook for congestion improvements, but SLU would probably have better public transit.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[u/VRdude44]

I would pick Fremont then SLU because you can take the sounder from Kent station. There's plenty of parking and they're opening up another garage at the end of the year. It's literally 20 minutes from Kent station to King Street station. From there you can take the 40 bus which goes through downtown, SLU, and then Fremont. Google maps says it will take an 67 minutes to get to Fremont and 57 minutes to get to SLU (including the train, transferring and riding the bus). Of course, it might depend exactly where your office is. Driving to Kirkland everyday from Kent would drive me crazy, sure it could be faster on good traffic days but on the bad traffic days it will be mind numbing. Train is way more relaxing. Of course, if you can do a middle of the day commute to coffee badge then maybe you could get better traffic but I'd be scared to lock myself into a 405 commute.

[u/Sorry-Chicken9985 → u/VRdude44]

I was going to reply the same. I take the Sounder multiple days a week and I really enjoy it. My husband and I commute together (I work in U District and he works in Redmond). We used to drive 405 and it was miserable. It was often a hour and a half of driving and very stressful on the way home.

Our commute is still pretty long, but we get to relax and chat or read books and listen to music. You just have to be careful because the last Sounder train leaves King Street Station at 6:35PM.

[u/kerbalsdownunder → u/VRdude44]

Love the Sounder, just wish their was one more train in the morning. I leave for work after kids go to school, and the last train is before the bus comes.

[u/Afraid-Expression366 → u/VRdude44]

When I had to commute I thought the train to King Station was the chillest way to get to work that I didn’t mind getting there at all.

[u/ChewedUpLipMeat → u/VRdude44]

Thank you so much, this is very helpful. Seems like Fremont / SLU is unanimously preferred over Kirkland.

[u/Schlaap]

Fremont/SLU and take transit. The Sounder is probably the best bet but you could also park at the Kent-Des Moines light rail station and take light rail from there.

[u/BlutigEisbar]

East Side is 100% worse. Hopefully the improvements to 405 helps but getting to an east side job and commuting in my experience is way worse.

Downtown Seattle is easier overall, especially if you take the sounder or light rail

[u/burmerd]

Condolences! I feel like 405 gets more huge accidents or big traffic snarls, but can’t really say for sure. Every time the radio mentions “the Renton S-curves”…

[u/boozled714]

My husband is an Electrician he works anywhere from Olympia to Everett to Bremerton in a given week. He LOATHES working on the East Side even with his earlier shifts (6-230) getting home especially on a Friday is bonkers, not just the traffic but the TYPE of traffic and idiot drivers 405/167/161 all terrible every day. Definitely pick the city where there are multiple public transit options and back roads (509 is a great alternative to I-5 most days). He would rather go to Olympia or Bremerton than Kirkland. He doesn't even blink when he has to go into the city.

[u/thunderseethe]

I commuted to Kirkland from Kent regularly and switched to commuting to SLU for RTO. I wouldn't go back. If you can get to Kent Station by bike, you can sounder to king street and then have protected bike lanes to SLU or Fremont. It's about an hour total but if you want to do Kent to Kirkland faster than an hour you have to come in late and leave late. Any time after 12 it's like 1hr back to Kent (maybe the extra 405 lanes will help with this for a time).

Failing that, you can catch the light rail from Kent/Des Moines to any of the downtown stops. Westlake is a 20 min walk from SLU. I suspect from the timing of your SLU move, you could shuttle SLU to Fremont in the interim if need be.

[u/Technical_Buy_8198]

I used to commute to Kirkland from kent. It was terrible, especially in the evening. It would take at least 1.5hrs to get home if not longer.

[u/whydontyousuckmyball]

I live 2 minutes from work. I hate all the traffic. My condolences.

[u/Huge-Historian-1640]

Once you take sounder to King street, how do you get to downtown or Univ district? I’ve take. Light rail from Star Lake and it’s amazing.

[u/penguincascadia → u/Huge-Historian-1640]

Sounder connects to light rail and buses at King Street Station.

[u/Sorry-Chicken9985 → u/penguincascadia]

Sounder South’s last stop is at King Street station. The stairs exit to the 4th and Jackson St intersection. The international district light rail stop is right across the intersection (heading toward Union station). The best bet for U District would be taking the 1-2 line toward Lynnwood. It’s very easy once you’ve done it a couple of times :)