Hi guys and gals

What kind of commutes do you have, how long/far are you traveling daily, and if it's a long one, why go so far daily? I used to live on the east coast, and the most I ever commuted is about 1 hour max, but it was fast moving traffic for the most part so I was always moving and it did not feel like 1 hour.

I have just started moving back to the area and have yet to decide where to actually live, closer to the loop, or closer to work out in Arlington Hts. Does anyone commute outbound from the city to the burbs, how long does it take daily, and how far are you going? Looking to keep my drive at about 1 hr max, but of course I would like to get it well below that if possible.

Thanks for the input.

 

OK, so for all 14 Driver members who actually live in Chicago and read this board, let me put this directly.

I am looking to find out what kind of AM traffic to expect on 90 -specifically outbound from the greater-loop area.

How far do you go, where do you start and how long does it take you on the weekdays?

 

http://www.gcmtravelstats.com

 

Thank you for the link.

I cant help but wonder however if this is outdated info. This site claimes a avg. ride from Ohio to Schaumburg @8 AM is only 27 minutes.

And for that matter this graph claims the inbound @ 8 am in reverse is even less time then that, no joy commander, I call schinnangans on this carvinal officer Barbrady.. (even if i cant spell it)

 

Did you notice that it runs on the current date? So you probably got Sunday's commute time. You have to run a custom query to get any other date besides today.

IMO this site beats any other traffic tool out there for the Chicagoland area. It was very accurate for when I use to work out in the suburbs. I believe the info comes straight from IDOT.

 

Yes,thanks, I saw. I will check it tomorrow to be sure, but what i drew those estimates from were the red suggestions, which said :

"The red line indicates the average travel time for all samples ever collected"




edit

custom query works a lot better, 8 am is now saying a combnined 40 minutes.

Have you ever commuted outbound?

 

Yea outbound from the City everyday. I took Edens (94) and it sucked, so I got a job downtown instead.

 

i live on the north side of the city and i work downtown off the madison exit on 90/94.

I work night shift so my trip to work at 11PM is smooth sailing other then when they tear down the train rails and make traffic, it roughtly takes me 10-15 mins pending if i use the express lane or not.

my drive back home is another story. heading 90/94 west bound in the 7AM-10AM isn't as bad as heading east bound but it still takes me 25-30 mins to get home.

i drive 10 miles each way.

 

Your moving to Chicago? join www.chicagoz.com!

 

welcome to chitown! youre gonna love the snow and the massive amount of salt that they dump on the roads here...oh and hurry up and get a G with that job of yours

i think any commute back and forth using 90/94 is complete hell esp @ the junction and plus the construction on 94 does help the situation either. i think you should try to save yourself the trouble and live in the city if u have a job in the city and vice versa for the burbs.

 

Appreciate the feedback guys.

I was originally from this area, and have been back for business a dozen times a year for 3 years in a row, I am well prepared for the snow and cold. As a matter of fact, the more the better, I lived in CT for enough years to get used to it.

My bigger dliemma is what to do for the road, since I have a company office i work out of in Arlington Hts, i have to keep my winter sled for just that. But i dont see a lot of parking for an F150 in the streets of Chicago. I have wanted a sports car for years, and now that I am close to affording 1, i am giving up my garage in my house in CT and so i wont have a place to park 2 toys, let alone a big pickup.

S**t happens, and my life is now Chi-town. So, i have to make a tough choice, I could choose to live in the burbs, cut down the commute, maybe even have 2 toys, but I am liking the idea of living near the city, so its fish or cut bait time.....

 

Just get your self a winter set and you wont need that F-150 any longer.

My commute is only 1 mile now days, but I do drive in the snow and no problems. In 4 years that I have the car never had an o-**** moment in the winter once winter set was put on.

Traffic can be a problem coming out from the city specially in the winter when they plow only 2 out of 3 lanes on 90/94.

 

Sorry I am no help when it comes to Alinington Hts. commutes. I am in the FAR South Burbs. Go into the city couple times a month for biz.

I suggest moving into the northern burbs, closer to your work. Chicago Z has a lot of meets that you would be close to as well!

 

thanks, still not sure where i might end up, but the commute is starting to make me re-think some downtown communities.

Cougar - what snow shoes do you put on the G, Ice or just snow or something else? It looks like you do not put on winter rims or are those your winters?

 

i live right next to china town (35th) and getting 2 arlighton heights via 290 is a total ho! i have only taken it once but it is one of the crappiest hw's around chicago. 90/94 is cool any time besides rush. i 55 sucks for me all the time. once you know the streets though you can easily avoid as much traffic as possible