South Loop to Des Plaines commute? (home, live, vs)

[KP726]

Can anyone help me with ideas for commuting to Des Plaines from the South Loop.
I am moving from Florida and not too familiar with all the rules.

Is this scenario possible? Leave one car permanently at metra station garage and use it to drive from suburb metra station to work and park it again overnight at metra garage. then take connecting train to south loop home area. We would be staying around the 1400 block of s. michigan and communting to mt. prospect rd in des plaines. I have tried to drive it in the morning when i was visiting and it took nearly 90 minutes.

Also, what time do you think I90/94 picks up in the morning?
If I were to leave at 730AM would there be heavy traffic? what about 7AM?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by KP726

Can anyone help me with ideas for commuting to Des Plaines from the South Loop.
I am moving from Florida and not too familiar with all the rules.

Is this scenario possible? Leave one car permanently at metra station garage and use it to drive from suburb metra station to work and park it again overnight at metra garage.

Depends on the station every Metra station has differnt rules on parking.

then take connecting train to south loop home area. We would be staying around the 1400 block of s. michigan and communting to mt. prospect rd in des plaines. I have tried to drive it in the morning when i was visiting and it took nearly 90 minutes. "

This is probably possible but check the Metra Scedule to make sure it works for you. The north west line train does have a lot of service both ways but Metra is not as good on reverse commutes.

Also, what time do you think I90/94 picks up in the morning?
If I were to leave at 730AM would there be heavy traffic? what about 7AM?

Thanks for any suggestions.

By 7AM rush hour is in full swing. It starts building at about 6AM. Can you live further northwest like irving park(it would save on commute time if you drive)?

[Mr Downtown]

Most areas of Des Plaines have good Pace bus service, so you might also consider that. Or you might work something out with a coworker who could pick you up at the Metra station.

As for driving times, you can see a statistical chart here.

[chet everett]

The Metra station to which UP-NW trains travel is Ogilvie -- that is WEST Loop, not south Loop...

I really doubt that you would save any time getting from 1400 S. Michigan to Ogilvie, taking a notoriously slow reverse commute train, schelping over to where ever you can find to park it overnight, then driving through DesPlaines.

Is moving closer to work an option? Even if you lived walking distance from say Jefferson Park stop I suspect that would slice your commute times in half...

[s0nginmyheart]

I've driven from the South Loop (18th & Michigan) to Des Plaines near Allstate a handful of times. You may want to consider taking the 290 to Mannheim North - that is a little bit out of the way (goes directly west) but it has shaved off a good amount of time vs all the traffic taking the 90. Hope this helps.

[pvande55]

Metra is the best option, though they don't have as many trains going your direction. The Kennedy is very bad because the express lanes will always be going the wrong way. Another alternative is the blue line.

[KP726]

Thanks for all the replies! We have already purchased a home in the South Loop, so changing housing is not an option. The job is going to be 8-430. So kinds sucks both ways as I tried taking Kennedy.
So do yall think 290 to 294 would be easier/quicker. Is Kennedy the worst interstate for rush hour?

[chirack]

Originally Posted by KP726

Thanks for all the replies! We have already purchased a home in the South Loop, so changing housing is not an option. The job is going to be 8-430. So kinds sucks both ways as I tried taking Kennedy.
So do yall think 290 to 294 would be easier/quicker. Is Kennedy the worst interstate for rush hour?

At rush hour there are no good interstates....

290 to 294 might work better but then you are traveling a long way out of your way. And 290 will be jammed on the way out.

Metra is about your only sane option as you can sleep on the train. Driving that distance is going to suck big time esp. if it snows.

[pvande55]

It looks like there are several trains that fit your schedule. You didn't say how far from the Des Plaines Metra you work. But as a "reverse commuter" you get to bring your bike aboard, so if it's within two miles that may be an option.

[Mr Downtown]

About 20 minutes longer once you backtrack to Route 83.