15 replies to this topic

[lfkedwards]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are planning to relocate to Sacramento. We're looking at Folsom and Empire Ranch in particular. My husband will be working in downtown Sac. Can you tell me how long will his commute be? Do any of you take the light rail - if so, how long does it take?

Thanks so much!

[TheWeimGuy]

From Folsom, LR is roughly a 1 hour trip downtown.
Daily commuting on Hwy 50 is typically a 45 minute or so drive in traffic. 30 minutes no traffic.

[mylo]

Sounds about right to me. But I would add that the extra time on lightrail is far superior to driving, even without traffic.

[Al Waysrite]

I agree with the times above. However on a bad day the commute will be over an hour. Fortuneately this isn't too often.

[Steve Heard]

Hi LFK

Welcome to myfolsom!

It's about 25 miles to downtown. Your commute time will also depend on how far from the freeway you are (it takes me 12 to 15 minutes to get to the Folsom ramp), and how far your destination will be from parking. So, figure 1 hour door to door.

So, if you have to be to work at 830, you leave the house by 7 or 715, get downtown about 8, park and walk to work, you'll get there on time.

For light rail, a 730a train will get you to downtown at 820a. You also have to figure in drive time to the station, parking, walking and waiting.

So, if you have to be to work at 830, and you leave your house by 7 or 715, get on the 730 train, walk from the station, you'll probably get there on time.

[titusan]

I live in Empire Ranch, and commute (drive) to downtown Sac. I leave at 7:30 to get to work at 8:30, and that includes dropping my daughter off in West Sacramento. Keep in mind that I'm able to use the carpool lane through Sunrise.

[supermom]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are planning to relocate to Sacramento. We're looking at Folsom and Empire Ranch in particular. My husband will be working in downtown Sac. Can you tell me how long will his commute be? Do any of you take the light rail - if so, how long does it take?

Thanks so much!

Welcome to Folsom!! The only I'd like to add is that if you are able to leave earlier in the morning you would get to work faster. Traveling down 50 after 7 am can be irritating. However if you can leave before 7 am you would fly down the the road. The same holds true for the evening. If you can get on the freeway to come back up towards 50 before 3pm you will do well. 4pm and you'll be lucky to go over 50 mph and 5 pm you'll be lucky to get to 3rd gear at all!!!

Wish I could use the light rail. sigh.

[melloguy]

Hi LFK

Welcome to myfolsom!

It's about 25 miles to downtown. Your commute time will also depend on how far from the freeway you are (it takes me 12 to 15 minutes to get to the Folsom ramp), and how far your destination will be from parking. So, figure 1 hour door to door.

So, if you have to be to work at 830, you leave the house by 7 or 715, get downtown about 8, park and walk to work, you'll get there on time.

For light rail, a 730a train will get you to downtown at 820a. You also have to figure in drive time to the station, parking, walking and waiting.

So, if you have to be to work at 830, and you leave your house by 7 or 715, get on the 730 train, walk from the station, you'll probably get there on time.

Fairly consistent with my times. I mostly ride the light rail and my door-to-door time is 1 hour 10 minutes. If he does have the option of setting his own hours and prefers to drive, when I leave at 5:30 AM, my door-to-door time to the Cal/EPA Building at 10th and I streets is 30 minutes.

[Jaxx]

Is there any place indoors downtown that's open Monday evenings and quiet enough to study? The Sacramento library is closed on Mondays.

[melloguy]

Is there any place indoors downtown that's open Monday evenings and quiet enough to study? The Sacramento library is closed on Mondays.

Near the library:

Temple Coffee is open until 11 PM. It is located at 1014 10th Street (between J and K). If that won't work, PM me and I can take a walk through the neighborhood at lunch to see if there is anything else.

[Steve Heard]

Near the library:

Temple Coffee is open until 11 PM. It is located at 1014 10th Street (between J and K). If that won't work, PM me and I can take a walk through the neighborhood at lunch to see if there is anything else.

There's a place at 18th and L. I don't know the name of it, but it's right on the corner. CAn't miss it. I've never been there on Monday nights, but have noticed it open late on other nights.

[Jaxx]

I'm not sure a coffee shop downtown would work, I've been to Starbucks downtown and there is so much commotion with people coming and going that I doubt most people could do anything that took more concentration than mindless web browsing on a laptop assuming there are empty tables and chairs available.
I don't think the Downtown Plaza mall even has a Borders bookstore, so it might be difficult to find a quiet and comfortable place in that area.

I just found out the Sacramento Law Library is open until 8PM on Mondays.
I'll check it out and see if that would be the best place.

[Jaxx]

I'm not sure a coffee shop downtown would work, I've been to Starbucks downtown and there is so much commotion with people coming and going that I doubt most people could do anything that took more concentration than mindless web browsing on a laptop assuming there are empty tables and chairs available.
I don't think the Downtown Plaza mall even has a Borders bookstore, so it might be difficult to find a quiet and comfortable place in that area.

I just found out the Sacramento Law Library is open until 8PM on Mondays.
I'll check it out and see if that would be the best place.

I went to the Law Library and it's open Monday-Thursday to 8pm. It looked comfortable and quiet and they also had free WIFI.

[Jaxx]

I'm too far from nearest lightrail stop to walk in a timely manner, but close enough that driving and parking in less than 10 minutes is destructive to the car.
I can walk to a nearby Folsom bus stop that would be able to drop me off at the light rail station. Too bad the Folsom Stage Line charges $2 each way or $85 per month to connect to light rail in addition to the $85 per month the light rail pass would cost ($170 in pass fees every month) or else I'd consider riding the bus to light rail and leaving my car garaged. The City garages charge about $150 per month to park.
The other issue with lightrail is that you can't get back to Folsom from downtown on lightrail after around 6:30PM. If you have to stay downtown late, you can't get any closer to Folsom than the Sunrise light rail station.

[Ras712]

I leave anytime between 5:30a and 6:30a, takes me about 30-35 minutes usually. Getting home can be tricky, depends on how long my day is and what time I leave, it can take 45 minutes or more depending on traffic... It's a shame that the last train from downtown is @ 6:30p because I can never predict the length of my day. If you have a normal 9-5 though it is a green and stress free alternative.