AME Actual distances/times

[doctorwho]

OK- Over the last period of time I have looked at distances / commute issues, hazards etc as it relates to AME ( and yes I know no site has been chosen) and I have posted mileages and been corrected by some as on line large differences came back --

Using Google Maps , Mapquest , Livemaps, and everything this side of Maps R Us gave all sorts of readings. One map placed the Ferry Road location closer to my home than the mall - so I decided today to map the trip after I picked my daughter up from Hill to the site and do it in the 3:30 time frame so that all info is accurate and relevant.

So I am willing to listen to commentary on this , but not dispute distances or times as they are actual - and I did not take Rt 59 - nor is there Christmas traffic, nor any other issue out of the ordinary.

I left Hill and went up Diehl to Eola. I had never gone that way before and quite frankly had no idea what was there. On the south side of the street most of the way was housing and the entrance to what used to be Country Lakes Golf Course. On the right hand side was mostly low level industrial type buildings - nothing earth shattering one way or another -- until:

I waited 13 minutes for a train to clear the tracks that are maybe 1/2 mile or so East of Eola ( maybe a little more ? ) -
Now I would not recommend any buses ever travel this way for that reason, as well as there is a power station of some sort and huge power line towers there plentiful enough that I was looking for Godzilla to come stomping through. Now they are not around housing but they are sure not far NE of the school site.

I made the turn onto Eola and as I traveled the short distance I turned on the computer in the car to track the exact mileage and time. Now the school will also likely be set back from Eola a good distance , maybe .2 of a mile or so ? Would anyone familiar with the site disagree ?

I took the most exact route I could - to make sure I didn't hear about shorter ways etc.

I went Eola to New York Street to Ogden to Rickert to Sequioa ( which enter the Watts area) and then to my home.

One positive - no grade level RR crossing if going that way.

Elapsed distance 7.4 miles elapsed time 28:48

No bus stops to pick up kids - not really rush hour and I admit I usually drive faster than the speed limit.

BTW Arch - as I passed your home

6.4 miles and 26:16 are your distanes and time

Those are the facts as they are - and what makes AME unaccpetable to me as a Watts resident if we are to attend there.

One other question maybe someone here knows the answer to - the brick ranch that fronts the property on Eola - what's the story with that ?

[warriorpride]

my only comment: North Aurora Rd and Liberty would both have been shorter driving times that the routes you took

[Arch]

Liberty has a grade level RR crossing.

N. Aurora does not. At Rt. 59 though, which way? Keep on N. Aurora to Ogden then on to Rickert?

[d204mom]

warriorpride said:

my only comment: North Aurora Rd and Liberty would both have been shorter driving times that the routes you took

All Seasons is on North Aurora, right?

That is a crazy zoo getting in and out of there. Traffic is a nightmare.

[doctorwho]

warriorpride said:

my only comment: North Aurora Rd and Liberty would both have been shorter driving times that the routes you took

Matter of opinion as North Aurora is a 2 lane road and also has a grade level RR crossing as Liberty does - does it not ? Maybe I could have caught that same 13 minute train --I got on the way there

Maybe there are some other backroads that if I got lucky would save a few minutes but I also avoided 59 and Ogden ( except for the few blocks I need to be on it) - and actually with the exception of the light at New York and Ogden - traffic was not heavy.

I know it makes some unhappy - but it is what it is and distances would not be affected

I wish it was closer -- I wish it was less time -- it is neither - .1 of a mile or 2 minutes does not make this any better
remember there are also longer ways to go - some of which may be taken by the school bus. Also I am willing to bet the trip at 5 PM ( after practice0 is also quite longer time wise. I tried to be fair , I guess I didn't try hard enough.

[doctorwho]

archwinsome said:

Liberty has a grade level RR crossing.

N. Aurora does not. At Rt. 59 though, which way? Keep on N. Aurora to Ogden then on to Rickert?

The intersection of 59 and anythng no bargain I agree - actually I made the light on New York street @ 59 - so I had zero delay there -

[we4]

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the express trains start running at 2:30pm out of Chicago and get in starting at 3:12pm at Rt 59. If you take North Aurora, any chance you could get caught up in the train station traffic? Nothing like mixing crazy commuters getting out of the station with even crazier high school students. I live with a crazy train commuter, so I feel I can say that. ;D

[doctorwho]

we4 said:

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the express trains start running at 2:30pm out of Chicago and get in starting at 3:12pm at Rt 59. If you take North Aurora, any chance you could get caught up in the train station traffic? Nothing like mixing crazy commuters getting out of the station with even crazier high school students. I live with a crazy train commuter, so I feel I can say that. ;D

It seems as though we are only concerned with the best possible scenario - and nothing else.

North Aurora and 59 I find a worse intersection than NY Street and North Aurora when coming from the west as many times - especially rush hour the north south routes are much worse than EW. Many times 59 is backed up from NY street to I88 headed south and Ogden also horrendous heading south - I avoided both ( and made the light at 59 ) but I guess I could have been quicker.

[gatormom]

d204mom said:

doctorwho said:

I left Hill and went up Diehl to Eola. I had never gone that way before and quite frankly had no idea what was there.

Deleted by d204mom as inappropiate

Please refrain from provoking posters. Thank you.

[doctorwho]

we4 said:

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the express trains start running at 2:30pm out of Chicago and get in starting at 3:12pm at Rt 59. If you take North Aurora, any chance you could get caught up in the train station traffic? Nothing like mixing crazy commuters getting out of the station with even crazier high school students. I live with a crazy train commuter, so I feel I can say that. ;D

I used to be one of those lunatics - and before the parking issues @ 59 - the station was half empty as that time -- I really do not miss that train commute downtown. Is there a way north from the lots to North Aurora ( I truly don't know) as I used to come out south to 59 when I parked there many moons ago.
If there is an exit to North Aurora - yes that would increase traffic

[we4]

doctorwho said:

we4 said:

Not sure if this makes a difference, but the express trains start running at 2:30pm out of Chicago and get in starting at 3:12pm at Rt 59. If you take North Aurora, any chance you could get caught up in the train station traffic? Nothing like mixing crazy commuters getting out of the station with even crazier high school students. I live with a crazy train commuter, so I feel I can say that. ;D

It seems as though we are only concerned with the best possible scenario - and nothing else.

North Aurora and 59 I find a worse intersection than NY Street and North Aurora when coming from the west as many times - especially rush hour the north south routes are much worse than EW. Many times 59 is backed up from NY street to I88 headed south and Ogden also horrendous heading south - I avoided both ( and made the light at 59 ) but I guess I could have been quicker.

I agree. I think North Aurora would be the worst road to take. The intersection of N Aurora and Rt 59 truly stinks (to say it nicely). N Aurora, Ogden and Raymond intersection is not much better, IMO.

There are certain areas I avoid at certain times - the train station areas early morning and evening rush, the mall area almost anytime on weekends and the HS areas (204 and 203) when school gets out.

[doctorwho]

we4 said:

doctorwho said:

It seems as though we are only concerned with the best possible scenario - and nothing else.

North Aurora and 59 I find a worse intersection than NY Street and North Aurora when coming from the west as many times - especially rush hour the north south routes are much worse than EW. Many times 59 is backed up from NY street to I88 headed south and Ogden also horrendous heading south - I avoided both ( and made the light at 59 ) but I guess I could have been quicker.

I agree. I think North Aurora would be the worst road to take. The intersection of N Aurora and Rt 59 truly stinks (to say it nicely). N Aurora, Ogden and Raymond intersection is not much better, IMO.

There are certain areas I avoid at certain times - the train station areas early morning and evening rush, the mall area almost anytime on weekends and the HS areas (204 and 203) when school gets out.

Thank you We4 - I totally agree and because of where Hill is I know how these intersections are also as I have to take on eof them home from there ( or River if there are no trains) - I think they would have extended the time, not shortened it, so I made the conscious decision to avoid, and since they do not shorten the distance at all.

[momto4]

gatormom said:

d204mom said:

deleted by wvhsparent

Please refrain from provoking posters. Thank you.

Hmmm. Seems I missed d204mom's post while I was at All Seasons on North Aurora Rd. It took me less than a minute to get out of the parking lot even though there were a few cars ahead of me.

I don't think think I've ever been as disrespectful to anyone here as you imply.

I agree with warriorpride, I travel east/south from here frequently but never take Eola to New York St. east.

North Aurora Rd. goes under the tracks and I have never had a problem traveling past the North Aurora Rd/Rt. 59 intersection going east or west at any time of day, only going south and occasionally north are problems. Has anyone else dealt with traffic back-ups traveling east or west there?

[EagleDad]

Doc, I believe you and feel for you. The more I think about it with a northern site Watts needs to go to WVHS, its the only solution that would work. I support having Watts at WVHS and I think that tradeoffs have to be made to ease the burden on Watts (and possibly Cowlishaw). These tradeoff probably involves Steck or McCarty. No one school should bear the full burden and accomodations need to be made for this. Per Gatordog's logic, these areas have given nothing for the cause to date. I would support others going north (not that far for them still less than your commute to WVHS if I'm not mistaken) so that you are not driving nearly 8 miles. With a SB member from each, it will be intereseting to see if they are open to it, should a Northern site come to pass.

[gatordog]

doctorwho said:

. Also I am willing to bet the trip at 5 PM ( after practice0 is also quite longer time wise. I tried to be fair , I guess I didn't try hard enough.

Thanks for the post with this info. Good to have real info.

I saw your post and did the rush-hour drive today from AME to Watts, something I have been meaning to do also. I took same route doctorwho took. I also thought it would be best way.

I was at AME sign at 5:03 and was at Watts at 5:22. 19 minutes.

I thought Eola traffic was pretty typical for rush hour. Once I turned east on New York things lightened up (as you said).

I wonder if the long train messed up other area traffic as well in some way.

Not sure what the 2:30 get out of school time is like (I think that traffic has to be fairly light?)

We can generally estimate the drive from AME to Watts is in 20-30 range. (It seems to be pretty dependant on what traffic is like.)