Hi all! I'm an incoming grad student without a car virtually apartment hunting from out of state.
I'm currently entertaining the idea of signing with a place out in Carrick bordering Brentwood with the 51/51L bus as the only transit to downtown, about 51 minutes per the Transit App. Another place that I am considering is in Dormont very close to the Red Line (though I like this place a little less despite it being closer). But the Dormont commute is not that much better from what I can tell, hitting about 45min per the Transit App.
Every other listing so far has been a bust or does not meet my criteria- and I've been searching since April! You can imagine my desperation.
I am feeling so conflicted because I like the Carrick apartment! It's clean and not years old, the rent is exactly what I can afford (which has been ridiculously hard to find), the neighborhood has some nearby groceries/convenience stores that are close to my cultural background, it seems like a cozy quiet spot, and I honestly don't mind long commutes. Long commutes are fine BUT inconsistency, uncertainty, and the high chance of being late are not.
I have been trying to research this bus line specifically and the Red Line but I keep getting mixed reviews about whether the 51 and 51L are consistent with their lateness/on-timeness and whether the Red Line is always delayed/under construction/using shuttles.
TLDR: Is the ~51min commute on the 51/51L from Carrick/Brentwood to campus worth it to live in a decent apartment at a good affordable rent?
Or will the chaos of the buses and commute cause me a greater headache and make me wish I paid more/lowered my living standards to be closer to campus?
Are the buses consistently late/early or is it a coin toss?
Are the 51/51L commute times typically longer/unreliably variable?
Is it a bad idea to rely on the 51 buses as my only transportation to downtown aside from infrequent rideshares/carpooling? If I go with Dormont, is it a bad idea to rely solely on the Red Line?
Is the Red Line more overall reliable than the bus routes?
Should I avoid this entirely by only focusing on listings in the east, even if they don't meet my criteria?
Thanks if you read and answer this post, much appreciated!!