Reverse Commute - downtown to Arlington Heights (Chicago: construction, living in)

[chitowncommute]

Hi,
My company is relocating me to Chicago and I'm planning on living in the River North area, however, my office is in Arlington Heights. Does anyone know what kind of a commute that is in the morning and after work? (I work 8:30-5:30)
Thanks!

[soulful]

On normal days, it will be between 55 minutes and 1 hr and 10 minutes (pretty much both directions at those times).

If it is raining/snowing or an accident on either side of I-90, that is another story

Good luck with your new work location!

[Avengerfire]

It will suck.

[Fishtacos]

Soulfoul has it about right driving. However I would add, besides rain, snow, ...accidents, construction, etc...would easily make it 1.5 hrs to a few hours, one way.

It's not something you will want to do long term driving. Take Metra.

[Drover]

The 55 minutes to 1:10 minutes soulful gives is an optimistic estimation. That's usually how long it takes just to get to the airport from downtown during rush hour. Then once you get to the airport you've got another 20 to 30 minutes. You'll spend about 3 hours a day in your car. There would be no point in living in River North because you'd never have the time to enjoy doing anything there. Find somewhere else to live.

[Carantini]

wow your company moved out of downtown to a suburb, damn thats gonna kill employee morale. Quit or move to the suburbs cause the commute is gonna **** you off, especially cause its a reverse commute and you live in such a cool area.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Carantini

wow your company moved out of downtown to a suburb, damn thats gonna kill employee morale. Quit or move to the suburbs cause the commute is gonna **** you off, especially cause its a reverse commute and you live in such a cool area.

Huh? Where'd he say anything about the company moving out of downtown to a suburb?

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by chitowncommute

Hi,
My company is relocating me to Chicago and I'm planning on living in the River North area, however, my office is in Arlington Heights. Does anyone know what kind of a commute that is in the morning and after work? (I work 8:30-5:30)
Thanks!

Can you take Metra? Some companies, like Motorola, offer a shuttle from the Metra station to the work place.

[randomguymike]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Can you take Metra? Some companies, like Motorola, offer a shuttle from the Metra station to the work place.

This would be the best idea. The Arlington Hieghts Metra station is pretty nice. Train runs on a regular basis, and I know for me personally, I am much more sane after taking a 1 hour Metra ride when I have to work in Paletine, compared to doing a 1:30 commute in my car through stop and stop and stop and go traffic.

[chitown85]

Another option is to leave your car at the AH Metra station everyday and just use to commute from the station to work and vice versa. And you could drive it back to the city on weekends to grocery shop.