Moving to South suburbs? Commute issues/questions (Cicero, Skokie: transfer to, neighborhood)

[monkeyman727]

I plan on moving to the south suburbs to be closer to family. I work north of the loop in Lincoln Park. Only concern is the commute. Anybody here commute from Tinley Park, Orland Park or Mokena to downtown. Is Metra the best option with transfer to the EL? How about driving? NW indiana is also an option...

[ajolotl]

That's a bad situation any way you look at it. Driving is pretty awful north on I-57 during rush hour. It will take an hour, more if there is an accident or bad driving conditions. The metra is good for downtown but you'll have to walk a bit to connect (depending on which line you take in, which depends on which suburb you choose). Either way it will take probably 1.5 hours door to door.

I would live there and work in loop. Working in lincoln park -- no way.

[chitown85]

The above poster said it best. You are looking at a 90 minute ride, at best 75 minutes each way. My suggestion is go close to the west suburbs such as Brookfield or LaGrange. That way you are still close enough to your family.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by monkeyman727

I plan on moving to the south suburbs to be closer to family. I work north of the loop in Lincoln Park. Only concern is the commute. Anybody here commute from Tinley Park, Orland Park or Mokena to downtown. Is Metra the best option with transfer to the EL? How about driving? NW indiana is also an option...

Yup do it regularly. I live near 135th and La Grange and that is smooth sailing to be honest. La Grange from 135th north to I-55 is comparable with a Connecticuit expressway, 2 lane each direction, 55 mph speed limit, moves pretty well, IDOT actually has those signals coordinated fairly well, not the best but not horrible either. I-55 can be dicey around Pulaski thanks to that cluster F IDOT has over there with Cicero and Pulaski's exits and entrances being too close together and not enough lanes to support the traffic, but you're looking at about 50 mins to get in and out during rush hour and 30 mins the rest of the day when traffic is moderate and as always nobody pays any attention to the 55 mph speed limit. Check out the area around 135th from La Grange Rd to 82nd Ave. Look on a google map and you can see it. Here is the neighborhood to look in. You will not have to deal with OP traffic to get in and out of the city, yet you can live in the OP. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie...,0.068321&z=14

[ParkerP]

Originally Posted by NYrules

I-55 can be dicey around Pulaski thanks to that cluster F IDOT has over there with Cicero and Pulaski's exits and entrances being too close together and not enough lanes to support the traffic

Get outta here! Is that what it is? Not to derail the thread but me and a co-worker were going nuts trying to figure out why the hell traffic always slows down right there with no accidents or anything. And we are in reverse traffic during rush hour to boot. We just couldn't figure it out. Thanks a lot LOL.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by ParkerP

Get outta here! Is that what it is? Not to derail the thread but me and a co-worker were going nuts trying to figure out why the hell traffic always slows down right there with no accidents or anything. And we are in reverse traffic during rush hour to boot. We just couldn't figure it out. Thanks a lot LOL.

Yup and to make it even more aggravating all the IDOT has to do is to push the shoulder out and make it one continuous exit/entrance lane instead of forcing people entering on from Cicero into the number 1 lane then 50 feet later have the lane jut back out again to allow people to exit. It should just flow as a solid extra lane between Cicero and Pulaski not like this < but more like l if you catch my drift. If you ever notice, about 20% of the people coming down the on ramp from Cicero or Pulaski are only trying to get over 1 street and they get right back off again, but thanks to the wonderful IDiOT engineering, those 20% are forced to merge in with through traffic causing everyone to have to slow down to a crawl to let them in. Its stupid if you ask me.

[monkeyman727]

Thanks for the info, it really is helpful. Quick question, do you work downtown or farther north? Thanks, MM

[ajolotl]

Not sure who you are asking, but I work on the south side.

[NYrules]

Originally Posted by monkeyman727

Thanks for the info, it really is helpful. Quick question, do you work downtown or farther north? Thanks, MM

Have friends that are up in Skokie so I travel there frequently and go up either 55 to 90/94 or 55 to 294 to Dempster either way works, just depends on the weather to be honest and time of day as to what way I go.

[chicago_60611]

Originally Posted by monkeyman727

I plan on moving to the south suburbs to be closer to family. I work north of the loop in Lincoln Park. Only concern is the commute. Anybody here commute from Tinley Park, Orland Park or Mokena to downtown. Is Metra the best option with transfer to the EL? How about driving? NW indiana is also an option...

Have you considered Homewood/Flossmoor? But I think you hit it on the nail and answered your own question "Is Metra the best option with transfer to the EL?" Only sane way, drivng would be a pain. Yes sirrrr.