bus vs train (Chicago: to live, bill, budget)

[samsamuelson1]

Bus is nice for East West transit north of the city.

Train is good to get in the loop or out to Ohare in a jiff.

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

I live 5 minutes from the Sheridan Red Line and 5 minutes from the Express Buses on Lakeshore. It's awesome having the choice depending on what I want. It's strange how one day I can wake up and just REALLY be wanting to take the train to work for no reason. Other mornings I wake up and instantly know I'm taking the bus that day. They're quite different situations. On the bus it's the beginning of the route, I get the exact same seat every day which I like, it takes longer, but it's more peaceful.

The train is a lot faster but much more in-your-face with other people mashed together.

Anyway.....I think there's a place for both of them. Bus I like when I'm just running from say Irving Park to Belmont and dont' want to walk, or crossing east and west. Trains are much better for getting somewhere quickly, but they normally don't connect exactly where you want to go unless it's downtown.

[Mr Downtown]

Originally Posted by CAG13

Has anyone heard about this.... [CN purchase of EJ&E allowing abandonment of St Charles Air Line] ?????????

Yes. The purchase has been approved. What does this have to do with transit?

[tanzall]

I've been reading, reading, and more reading trying to figure out the public transportation. I'm so confusded! What is the difference between the "L" and Metra? Is it just two different orgainizations that run them, but they are both trains?

[Venom]

Originally Posted by tanzall

I've been reading, reading, and more reading trying to figure out the public transportation. I'm so confusded! What is the difference between the "L" and Metra? Is it just two different orgainizations that run them, but they are both trains?

The L is the CTA(Chicago Transit Association)
Chicago and near suburbs
More stops so you can stop at different parts of the city.
Pretty much Chicago's train.

The Metra is for places that are far like far suburbs, and less stops, and faster.
This is the Chicagoland train.

[tanzall]

Originally Posted by Venom

The L is the CTA(Chicago Transit Association)
Chicago and near suburbs
More stops so you can stop at different parts of the city.
Pretty much Chicago's train.

The Metra is for places that are far like far suburbs, and less stops, and faster.
This is the Chicagoland train.

Ahh!!!!!!!! They're both trains. I'm very directionally challenged, so I better get up to speed fast. I mean I couldn't find my way out of a 1 door room, not kidding. Thanks Venom.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by Venom

The L is the CTA(Chicago Transit Association)
Chicago and near suburbs
More stops so you can stop at different parts of the city.
Pretty much Chicago's train.

The Metra is for places that are far like far suburbs, and less stops, and faster.
This is the Chicagoland train.

If you go to transitchicago.com, there is a trip planner that combines the CTA, Pace, and Metra Rail systems.

There are locations within the city that are easier to get to by Metra than CTA. For example, Edison Park from the Loop is easier by train.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

If you go to transitchicago.com, there is a trip planner that combines the CTA, Pace, and Metra Rail systems.

There are locations within the city that are easier to get to by Metra than CTA. For example, Edison Park from the Loop is easier by train.

Actually, the one on transitchicago.com is only the google trip planner, which only has CTA routes.

rtachicago.com trip planner includes Metra and Pace.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

Actually, the one on transitchicago.com is only the google trip planner, which only has CTA routes.

rtachicago.com trip planner includes Metra and Pace.

I use the one at Transitchicago.com to plan trips from Crystal Lake all the time and it does include Metrarail:

For example:


Transit directions to 1 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602
Crystal Lake Metra



Travel time: about 1 hour 34 minsShowing Trip 1

Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTC
Service run by Metra
4:47amDepart Crystal Lake Metra
1 hour 5 mins5:52amArrive Irving Park Metra
Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTCService run by Metra[SIZE=-1]4:47am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Crystal Lake Metra[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]5:52am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Irving Park Metra[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Subway - Blue Line - Direction: Forest Park
6 mins to make transfer

Service run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA
5:58amDepart Irving Park-Blue
20 mins6:18amArrive Washington-Blue
Subway - Blue Line - Direction: Forest Park6 mins to make transferService run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA[SIZE=-1]5:58am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Irving Park-Blue[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]6:18am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Washington-Blue[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Walk to 1 N State St About 3 mins
Hide detailsShow details
Beta: Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

1.Head south on N Dearborn St toward W Calhoun Pl430 ft
2.Turn left at W Madison St430 ft



Walk to 1 N State StAbout 3 mins« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »1 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602
« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »

Travel time: about 1 hour 38 minsShowing Trip 2

Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTC
Service run by Metra
5:12amDepart Crystal Lake Metra 1 hour 5 mins6:17amArrive Irving Park Metra Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTCService run by Metra[SIZE=-1]5:12am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Crystal Lake Metra[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]6:17am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Irving Park Metra[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Subway - Blue Line - Direction: Forest Park
10 mins to make transfer
Service run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA
6:26amDepart Irving Park-Blue 20 mins6:47amArrive Washington-Blue Subway - Blue Line - Direction: Forest Park10 mins to make transferService run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA[SIZE=-1]6:26am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Irving Park-Blue[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]6:47am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Washington-Blue[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Walk to 1 N State St About 3 mins
Hide detailsShow details
Beta: Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

1.Head south on N Dearborn St toward W Calhoun Pl430 ft
2.Turn left at W Madison St430 ft


Walk to 1 N State StAbout 3 mins« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »1 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602
« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »

Travel time: about 1 hour 39 minsShowing Trip 3

Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTC
Service run by Metra
5:36amDepart Crystal Lake Metra 1 hour 8 mins6:44amArrive Irving Park Metra Train - UP-NW - Union Pacific Northwest - Direction: Chicago OTCService run by Metra[SIZE=-1]5:36am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Crystal Lake Metra[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]6:44am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Irving Park Metra[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Subway - Blue Line - Direction: UIC
7 mins to make transfer
Service run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA
6:51amDepart Irving Park-Blue 20 mins7:11amArrive Washington-Blue Subway - Blue Line - Direction: UIC7 mins to make transferService run by Chicago Transit Authority - 1-888-YOURCTA[SIZE=-1]6:51am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Depart Irving Park-Blue[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]7:11am [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Arrive Washington-Blue[/SIZE]« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »Walk to 1 N State St About 3 mins
Hide detailsShow details
Beta: Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.

1.Head south on N Dearborn St toward W Calhoun Pl430 ft
2.Turn left at W Madison St430 ft


Walk to 1 N State StAbout 3 mins« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »1 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602
« PreviousZoom in
Trip overview
Next »


1 N State St
Chicago, IL 60602

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

I use the one at Transitchicago.com to plan trips from Crystal Lake all the time and it does include Metrarail:

For example:


Transit directions to 1 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602
Crystal Lake Metra

oh oops. i don't think it includes Pace though, unless you can figure out a way to make it include Pace. i started working at Western and Touhy a couple weeks ago and didn't realize i could just take a bus down Touhy from the Howard L, because when i would look it up on the CTA's Google trip planner it never showed the 290 (I can't figure out why exactly that's a Pace route anyway).

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

... because when i would look it up on the CTA's Google trip planner it never showed the 290 (I can't figure out why exactly that's a Pace route anyway).

290 is a Pace route because a vast majority of the parts of Touhy it runs on are in the burbs.

I hope 290 always stays a Pace route. Pace is much more reliable and cleaner than the CTA.