Commuting from the East Bay to Marin County

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  • Living in Martinez and commuting to San Rafael- Crazy???

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    Aug 24, 2020

    Hi there, 

    My hubby and I are on the hunt for a house and try as we might we can't make it happen in the areas we want! We have started to consider Martinez because of its affordable houses and very highly rated schools. Here is the kicker, I work in San Rafael, is the commute really just downright awful? I'm sure that's a dumb question, because isn't it all terrible, but I just don't know anything about commuting that direction! My current commute from Oakland to San Rafael is 40-60 minutes each way, is this commute similar?

    We have considered every town in that direction between Richmond and Martinez, but schools are the most important thing on our list so it seems like Martinez is the best option. We also would like to be semi near BART for when my hubby needs to commute to the city. 

    Right now I am 100& work from home because of the pandemic and hope it stays that way but alas I don't know if it will. 

    Any advice is appreciated. 

    Aug 24, 2020

    I work in Martinez and commute from El Cerrito, which is counter commute and takes me about 25 minutes. Martinez to SR is in the commute direction and I would estimate 60 minutes one way, if there is not an accident on the bridge. Personally that is too much commute for me but YMMV. I also wanted to note that many of my coworkers have kids in the public schools in Martinez Unified and it sounds like a mixed bag (honestly, just like every other public school system). My family considered moving to Martinez in the last year so I could be closer to work but decided that based on the things we look for in a school, MUSD wasn't particularly different (better or worse) than WCCUSD, our home district (again, a mixed bag, I am not trying to denigrate it). High school football is a very big deal at Alhambra High School (the main high school in Martinez), so maybe that's a draw or a detraction for you.

    Part of Martinez feeds to Mount Diablo Unified School District, which was of more interest to us because the specific schools that Martinez residents attend are relatively higher rated, but my partner ending up squashing that because that district is close to insolvent. (I would have done it, though, just goes to show you that different criteria in schools are important to different people.) Also that part of town is even further from the freeway, thus making an even longer commute for you.

    Aug 25, 2020

    Commute will be similar if not slightly worse.  You still have to cross the same bridge.  But then you'll have to deal with getting from Hwy 4 to 80 and then over to 580.  It's Richmond Parkway or Carlson. You'll either have lots of signals and some traffic or some traffic and lots of signals.  You might want to take a look at what the Martinez to El Cerrito BART trip would be like.  IDK, but I suspect it's not that great.  Or would he go to Concord?  That part of Hwy 4 gets really bad.  

    Martinez is a nice town with nice parks/open spaces.  But it also has the court house, jail and refineries.

    Hope this helps - Good luck

    Aug 27, 2020

  • Commuting from Berkeley to San Rafael -- carpool or other advice?

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    Jun 24, 2018

    I'm looking a job that would require a M-F commute from Berkeley to San Rafael (near Civic Center). Any advice on how to do this without driving or if I have to drive, how to best do so?

    Google says it's Bart (which I live near) to El Cerrito then two buses, which takes over an hour.  How can I find out about carpools, formal or informal? Is there a better transit option?

    Would love to hear your ideas!

    Jun 24, 2018

    I commuted from Albany to downtown San Rafael for many years, until a job change just last summer.  Unfortunately, there is no very good transit option. You have found BART to Del Norte, then a Golden Gate bus or buses to Marin, which works but with multiple transfers, yes it is a hassle and does take a long time.  (It's also easy to get stuck on the wrong side of the Bay if you're working late!  I think they've adjusted the bus routes and schedules since then to provide later evening service, but when I was using that route the last eastbound bus left the San Rafael transit center at 6:40 p.m.)  I did it the bus for about a year, but when I got pregnant, I gave up and switched to driving.

    For a driving commute, it isn't bad if you can avoid peak rush hour.  I shifted my hours a bit later than the usual office workday, for that reason among others, and it was half an hour door-to-door.  That's half the time it now takes me to commute into San Francisco on BART!  So as with anything, there are tradeoffs.  If you must work an 8-5 type schedule, you will have to deal with more traffic jams at the bridge.  An electric or hybrid car with a HOV sticker would help as it allows you to use the carpool lane at the bridge tolls, and of course you should have Fastrak regardless.

    For carpool possibilities your best bet is probably your prospective employer; you can also get some information and look for a "match" at 511.org.  But as far as I know it's not an especially common thing in Marin.

    Jun 27, 2018

    Public transportation from Berkeley to Marin is very inconvenient. My husband drives. It’s about 35-45 min drive in the morning on average. I’d recommend driving. Other option is getting dropped off via carpool at downtown SR bus stop and biking to civic center. There’s a nice path along the 101 dedicated for bikers and walkers. 

    Jun 27, 2018

     I think you can find carpool information at 511.com.  From what I have heard & read, that commute can be brutal these days.  You might look into BART to SF & a Golden Gate Transit bus to San Rafael, but that's likely to be over an hour as well. 

    Jun 27, 2018

    I do this commute a few days a week (I sometimes work from home and sometimes from SF). I could carpool if you can get to Albany but I wouldn't be a totally reliable M-F solution. Feel free to message me.

    Jun 27, 2018
RE:
Buying a home in Richmond/ surrounding areas (Apr 9, 2020)

I commute from Pinole/Hercules area to Marin. The morning commute is tricky but it is also tricky from Richmond because the problem (as you probably know since you are doing this from Oakland) is the bridge. I have been able with my schedule to leave between 5-530am and then the commute is a breeze. I take the Richmond Parkway and not 80 most days.I used to commute from Oakland to Marin and the Pinole commute is easier than that since you don’t also have to drive home on 80.

The afternoon commute, at least when I leave has been fine since they put another lane on the bridge, however the Richmond Parkway does get backed up at around 4pm- I’m lucky I can arrive early and leave early from my job. With the hours I arrive and leave it takes me 25-30 in the morning and 45 in the afternoon (I’m able to leave around 315 from Marin). If I leave at 4 it takes me about an hour from Marin.

It has been worth it for us because we have bought a lovely home in a wonderful community. I can’t speak to the SF commute though. There is a transbay  bus that leaves from Hercules and also a shuttle to El Cerrito BART that many people take.

Apr 16, 2020
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