In this area, all roads lead to Hartford. Literally, the roads all converge on the capital city. Interstate highways, state highways, and even smaller arteries spread out from Hartford like the spokes of a wheel.
It’s very important that home buyers understand this fact during their home search. Where are the towns or neighborhoods they’re interested in compared to their jobs? Are they comfortable making the drive every day? Everyone has different views on how long a drive is acceptable, so we simply recommend that they drive their future route once or twice to get a feel for the distances and times.
Some drives are just difficult to do. My introduction to the Greater Hartford road system came during a summer I spent at UConn Storrs during college. One of my frequent destinations that summer was Amherst, where Amy was spending the summer. Amazingly, the fastest way from Storrs to Amherst is to stay on the highways and drive through Hartford. The route is almost 50% longer, 73 miles vs 50, but the speed limit is quite a bit higher. I usually took the more direct route through the back roads since I hated the uncertainty of traffic more than the guaranteed extra 5 minutes that came from passing through a half dozen town centers.
The hub-and-spokes transportation model works best for those who are traveling one direct route, either to or from Hartford. In addition to driving, those who travel to the city also have the option of the CT Transit Express Bus system. Commuters who start in the city and travel out usually have the best commute. They miss most of the Hartford congestion and get a straight shot to their destination. Hartford residents don’t get the option of the Express Buses, though they can take jobs anywhere in the region without worrying too much about how it will impact their commute.
Whether home buyers are new to the area or lifelong Nutmeggers, it’s important that they think about their commute. And the first step in the process is understanding that all roads lead to Hartford.