Considering a Chicago - New Buffalo Commute & Need Advice (Burr Ridge: home, live)

[DR_Samuel]

I live quite far away and I would be moving to the New Buffalo area if the commute to Chicago is reasonable. I need your advice.

After reading several other commuting threads I understand:

1. Amtrak has a nice train, but the schedule is not optimal. Also, there may be some delays.
2. The South Shore Line (Michigan City) has more trains, but they are a not as nice as Amtrak. Also, there may be some delays.
3. The driving commute in winter is tough.

Are there any commuting alternatives which I'm not considering here? Have any of the train or commute options changed for the better recently?

Many Thanks!

Dave

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by DR_Samuel

I live quite far away and I would be moving to the New Buffalo area if the commute to Chicago is reasonable, and I need your advice.

As I understand it:

1. Amtrak has a nice train, but the schedule is not optimal. Also, there may be some delays.
2. The North Shore Line (Michigan City) has more trains, but they are a not as nice as Amtrak. Also, there may be some delays.
3. The driving commute in winter is tough.

Are there any commuting alternatives which I'm not considering here? Have any of the train or commute options changed for the better recently?

Many Thanks!

Dave

I thought over the next several years they were looking to make a faster train on the Northern Indiana (forgot the acronym) line. I had a former coworker who lived in Long Beach and took the Michigan City train. They took a job closer to home because the hour and 45 minute train ride was a bit much after a couple years.

[DR_Samuel]

Thanks fusillirob1983!



Dave

[rrah]

FYI--It's not the North Shore line. It's called the South Shore Line. The additions to train service referenced above won't help with a commute from New Buffalo. It's sort of a North/South route rather than East/West. (until the turn into Chicago of course).

[DR_Samuel]

Thanks rrah. I edited the original post to correct my error.



Dave

[adele115]

Originally Posted by DR_Samuel

I live quite far away and I would be moving to the New Buffalo area if the commute to Chicago is reasonable. I need your advice.

After reading several other commuting threads I understand:

1. Amtrak has a nice train, but the schedule is not optimal. Also, there may be some delays.
2. The South Shore Line (Michigan City) has more trains, but they are a not as nice as Amtrak. Also, there may be some delays.
3. The driving commute in winter is tough.

Are there any commuting alternatives which I'm not considering here? Have any of the train or commute options changed for the better recently?

Many Thanks!

Dave

It depends how often you need to be in the city. There is a significant contingent of former Chicagoans who still commute (mostly 2-3 days per week) into the city. Amtrak is very nice, but yes, the arrival time into downtown is not conducive to work hours and it is delayed at times.

The South Shore Line is indeed looking to add another track and improve times from Michigan City to Downtown to an hour. This certainly will help from New Buffalo, depending on where you live. Many currently take the SS line in and just drive 10-15 minutes to the train stop. The other poster said it won't help people from NB. I disagree - it will help those who currently take it. It's not as comfy a ride as Amtrak, but it is totally doable.

Driving: yes, winter is iffy. This winter has so far been mild so not bad. If you take the Skyway, it is 55 minutes to Hyde Park, 60-ish minutes to downtown, 75 minutes to Burr Ridge in the Western Burbs.

SO, full time working in Chicago would be tricky, but 2-3 days per week is totally doable and, aside from commuting challenges, affords a great lifestyle in Harbor Country.

[smegmatite]

Originally Posted by DR_Samuel

I live quite far away and I would be moving to the New Buffalo area if the commute to Chicago is reasonable. I need your advice.

After reading several other commuting threads I understand:

1. Amtrak has a nice train, but the schedule is not optimal. Also, there may be some delays.
2. The South Shore Line (Michigan City) has more trains, but they are a not as nice as Amtrak. Also, there may be some delays.
3. The driving commute in winter is tough.

Are there any commuting alternatives which I'm not considering here? Have any of the train or commute options changed for the better recently?

Many Thanks!

Dave

jesus dear god NO! DO NOT DO THIS!

[CCrest182]

It's not a commute I'd make, either by train or by car, more than 3 times a week. It's definitely something I would never do 5 days out of the week, every single week.

[DR_Samuel]

Adele115 -

Thank you for the great reply and the time estimates!

Dave

[aga412]

Originally Posted by adele115

Driving: yes, winter is iffy. This winter has so far been mild so not bad. If you take the Skyway, it is 55 minutes to Hyde Park, 60-ish minutes to downtown, 75 minutes to Burr Ridge in the Western Burbs.

Absolutely no way will it be that fast. No way.